Letter to my Seventeen year old self

This year marks 20 years since I graduated Wanneroo High School, all the way back in 1997, so today I decided to right a letter to my seventeen year old self, letter him know what lies ahead and to give him some advice, and hear it is.

Dear: 17 year old Jerome

How are you doing, hows the final year of high school going, hows the Presidency of the the Student Council and student body going?

My advice to you on this final year of high school, is enjoy every moment of it, and don't get to hung up on the Presidency and take your eye off the ball and lose sight of how special this year actually is as your last year of compulsory education.

In the years ahead out of high school, there will be many set-backs, missed opportunities and aborted career paths. You will go to tafe first and study childcare as you will miss out on getting the marks to go straight to uni, don't worry about this, as it will actually prove a benefit to you, as you will gain to more years of maturity on everyone else when you finally arrive at uni in 2001. You will enjoy your time in childcare and meet some great people, but your desire to study teaching and be challenged will prove to great, and it will be one of your tafe lecturers that sets you back on your path here.

When you finally get to Edith Cowan University, you will instantly enjoy the environment around you and start to thrive and grow into the person you are today. During this time at university you will begin your life long passion with hockey, at first you will feel like a duck out of water, but trust me it wont take long before you will feel right at home on a hockey turf coaching.

During your time at university you will start to entertain a possible career in politics, I say to you ignore this idea, its not going to be for you. Dont get me wrong you meet some interesting people throughout this time, and you make a great friend in Jai Mountney the gentle giant from Tasmania at the 2001 National Union of Student Education Conferance, but ultimately your desire to embrace the radical centre puts you at odds with many in student politics and the Australian Labor Party. Its also becomes a bit of a distraction and takes you off your track of becoming a teacher.

Dont get me wrong you learn some valuable skills from it, and this is where you become a tough negotiated and where you develop your thick skin which will be useful later when you get right into your hockey coaching passion. You will also meet your first serious girl-friend during this time, my advice there is be careful, perhaps hold back on wearing that heart out there so openly as things end here in a very tragic way.

Throughout all of this your parents are there for you and support you ever step of the way, remember that without them you would be know where. Also enjoy your chats with your Grandma because she will be gone from your life by the time your 37. Make the most of the time your spend with your family, they are always important and as the years where on you start to see them even less. Enjoy your weekends in Mandurah, and Collie with your Aunty Ruth and Uncle David, as it wont be long before your favourite Aunty Ruth will be gone from your life.

Now lets move onto your real passion in life Hockey Coaching and sports coaching, this is your true calling in life, this is the very thing you want to do, dont worry about those na sayers out there that tell you your made, as I say while it would appear at first that you are like a duck out of water, trust me you are really good at this. You do go back and finish your teaching degree as back-up but nothing feels more right than a hockey turf and you coaching.

Early on dont lose heart mate, when it seems like opportunities to move up as a coach seem to be blocked and your vision of the game and ideas about coaching are looked at as being far to radical and frankly stupid by some. In the end it wont matter your time will come and come it certainly will trust me on this.

It will take you having to move away from your home state of WA to Victoria for you to finally get your opportunities, but its well worth it, so know matter what your Dad says to you dont hesitate remember your success as a coach will be based on the fact that you are willing to and prepared to take risks in order to succeed.

In terms of when the opportunity comes up for your to purchase the family home in Wanneroo, I strongly urge you to think twice about this, think long and hard, as this decision will have a massive impact on everything for you for a number of years. While I can turn the clock back on the decision now, if I can I urge you think very long and very hard about it, as I dont think you are ready for that responsibility.

Once last thing above all this remember to have fun, and enjoy your life and role with the punches and do the best you always can.

All the best Big G, go get them.

Kind Regards
38 year Old Jerome

P.S- Oh stay away from any America's who offer you flashy ideas and concepts, they are trouble, big trouble.

P.P.S- Oh when you move to Sydney and re-kindle a relationship with your old Primary School friend Casey, make the most of those three months, she will be gone in heart-break before you have a chance to get started on your life together.

P.P.P.S- Enjoy the hockey premierships they will be special.