We live in a time where the world is technologically driven, basically the digital age, and some of the skills people are usually encouraged to have are soft skills that can make them relevant in the time and season we've found ourselves in. But then, peradventure, the internet disappears today from the surface of the earth alongside technological devices. Would it be possible for people to still be relevant, given the fact that many have prioritized digital skills at the expense of contemporary ones? Do I, for one, have handy skills to make ends meet and survive such a world? That, and several other related questions on the subject matter, is what I'll be discussing in this article.
The truth is that we don't pray for such to happen, because we humans have become so accustomed to the internet to the point where it'll be difficult to thrive without it, but then we're humans, and one thing humans are known for throughout the years is our resilience and our ability to survive different times and seasons, from the Stone Age till this very one we're in, so if peradventure all digital skills become useless today due to the fact that there is no interest, I believe I'll still have a means to survive given my multiple practical skills and handwork I've learned at different points in time in my life.
One of the first handworks I learned during the course of growing up was tailoring, which is now popularly referred to as fashion designing. I acquired this skill during my undergraduate days at the university because of my love for it at that time. In fact, it's worth noting that I did learn it against my dad's wish because he felt learning such would affect my concentration on my academics. One way or another, I learned it from an expert shop and later went further to enhance my knowledge by embarking on vocational training for six months after spending two years learning from the expert shop.
During my learning stage, I was able to acquire knowledge on how to sew different types of clothes, both English and traditional, and I used to sew all my clothes by myself back in the day. All the clothes I'm putting in the personal pictures attached to this post were clothes I sewed by myself, so it's not like I don't know how to sew. It's been a while since I sewed, but I'm sure if I try again, I'll still get the grasp of it. But I stopped at a time and focused on teaching, which is what I do now. Teaching is another practical skill that can help me survive in a world without internet.
Aside from tailoring and teaching, another practical skill I learned was decoration. This skill was also acquired during my undergraduate days at the university, although I only spent three months learning this skill, but then I can say for a fact that it's not that technical or difficult to grasp, and during the course of my study there, I remember I stated in one of my recent posts that I was honored as the best student in the decoration department, and even though it's been over 5 years since I last did it in any event, I still decorate my church altar every month, and that helps me refresh my knowledge, and doing it to earn won't be difficult if I choose to delve into it.
Also, I learned shoemaking for almost a year during my NYSC days and could make footwear that came in different shapes and styles. In fact, that was one of my very first skills I showcased when I first joined Hive. I don't do it for now due to my teaching job, but it's another practical skill that can easily save me if need be. I would have loved to add hairdressing because it was the very first skill I desired to learn, but as I'm not too good at it and the few I know how to do are what I knew before I was ten years old, I won't want to boast about that, but I can do basics.
That's about it on the practical skills and handwork knowledge I have presently that can come in handy peradventure. The Internet disappeared, and digital skills demand declined. It's always a pleasure to know I've got different things I can possibly delve into to survive such a thing, and I'm certain many people will also survive as well, even those without any of those skills at the moment. Humans are survivors, and Internet disappearance won't render us useless.
All photos are mine.