What are your skills?

[Mighty Lighty]

Hello escapists
I was wondering if any of you had picked up a skill in later childhood (16+)
I ask you this because I'm currently reaching the end of high school and I've noticed I lack any discernible skills to either be employed with or just to toy around with.

I'm not doing brilliantly at school but should I get my target grades (B,C,D) I should be hopefully taking a gap year (should exams not cock up) and I would be curious if anyone had been in the situation I'm now in and remedied with adopting a new skill.

Any stories or experiences doing this would be great thank you.

(if it helps I have been part of a youth theatre for 7 years and am likely to attempt the guitar again this year)

Also anything that boosts UCAS points would be perfect.

 

[Total LOLige]

I've never excelled at anything in my life I've always been consistently average. I'll find something that I'm good at eventually. Or not.

 

[Mighty Lighty]

I started learning the guitar at 16 years old.

I started learning how to build PCs around the same age, actually build one a few months later.

Both have come to mind

 

[Mighty Lighty]

I've never excelled at anything in my life I've always been considerately average. I'll find something that I'm good at eventually. Or not.

Feel for you, however, I believe I can fix this situation I'm in
(Think of it as pessimistic optimism, doing something even if you think it'll explode in your face)

 

[DoPo]

I ask you this because I'm currently reaching the end of high school and I've noticed I lack any discernible skills to either be employed with or just to toy around with.

Well, it might sound a bit disheartening but you're actually fine. Nobody expects you to be skilful at something when you finish school. Most people I know (including me) were awfully lacking in anything useful when we graduated. I mean, I had some skills but nothing I could rattle off for employers or boast about (outside some selected circles). I had some technical knowledge, some knack for computers, some understanding of Maths and...well, that's mostly it. And video games, of course, but that's not a skill I am exactly proud with. I can move a mouse press keys and blow stuff up on the screen, therefore justifying my waste of time, yay! Well, there was also English but it's way less useful than one would imagine when looking for work after high school.

Also, I should mention that you probably have some skills but don't view them as such.

But anyway, it's normal to feel that way. You should be fine, too - there is plenty of time to pick new stuff up. And there is always university and/or job that would teach you more.

 

[Zeckt]

To be honest I'm a slight underachiever and admit to not being overly smart and I'm kind of physically weak compared to other people so I successfully made up for it by being as empathetic to others as possible taking a pretty boy model to the extreme just to stand out, and it worked almost too well.

 

[bobmus]

What kind of thing are you looking to do at Uni? (Seeing as that's all you need UCAS points for)
Have you already got an offer?

No offence intended, but with those kind of grades, you're probably going to need extracurricular related to what you want to do for it to affect a universities decision. Although I must say I'm not sure what you need in order to do something like Drama at Bolton...

 

[ReadyAmyFire]

I started learning to shoot and drive after my 16th birthday, fly at 19th. Ended up being rather good at all three if I do say so myself.

 

[Esotera]

I started learning programming when I was 17/18, and I will never fully complete that task (despite being able to write programs fairly well now). I'm also relatively ok with basic linux administration (which I'm thinking of going into professionally, as it pays well and is something I find fun).

 

[ReadyAmyFire]

I hope it was at the same time, that would be so cool.

Note to self: attach Miroku to G-HMED, for science!

 

[Ljs1121]

I can say the alphabet backwards. Bow before my superiority.

 

[Virus0015]

I started learning to shoot and drive after my 16th birthday, fly at 19th. Ended up being rather good at all three if I do say so myself.

Yay for flying!

Anyway...

Got reasonably good at playing the guitar around 16, and learned how to assemble/fix PCs. Got my private pilot's license shortly after I turned 17. Passed my driving test a few months ago, though I am terrified of the prospect of driving something by myself. An eventful few years, relative to my early time in secondary school where I did essentially nothing extra-curricular apart from skiing.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Uh.

I played the tuba after switching to saxophone.

Woo?

 

[Arbi Trax]

I can cook a Sunday roast and have everything ready at the same time!

Also, weirdly enough, I seemed to have developed a knack for childcare. I don't have kids of my own, and I used to despise the thought of parenting, but my last job but one had me running small events at community centres during school holidays for families and young people, and dang it all if I didn't grow attached to the little buggers!

I gave up the youth work for a stable job in finance, but I intend to go back and do something on a voluntary basis when I have the time again. So yeah, I suppose empathy and patience are two skills I developed recently. Also, I'm quite looking forward to being a dad, which is awkward when you are single...

 

[Chemical Alia]

I didn't make my first 3d model until late 2008, when I was 26. I also started with Photoshop and digital art in general in my early 20's.