SLC-S24/W5 -Thoughts and reflections

Do you think being used by others allows you to mature in character and learn?

Sometimes we allow ourselves to be used so as to become mature in character.
Maturity in character impacts learning, thoughts and ability to control ones emotion. Apart from the experience we acquired which is inevitable as we advance in age, maturity is the result of an integrated process in which we learn from our experiences. This normally starts from the day of birth upward.
Truthfully, the concept of maturity has more cognitive features, ones relating to our inner thoughts and thinking ability.
A person's maturity level can be linked to judgement and decision-making process. Accordingly, mature people recognize their abilities, and they do not get into unnecessary problem, and are capable of reaching logical conclusions.
So being used by others, if we allow ourselves, can impact more maturity in character and learning. Experienced they said is the Best teacher.

Should we experience life in order to mature our character?

Maturity calls for experience. Come to think of this, why do many times when some companies or firm want to hire a personnel, they always look for an experienced person in that area of work? The reason being that an experienced person will handle the tools or machines for the job in a mature way based on his previous interaction with the tools. Moreso, an experienced personnel can work unsupervised and still get the work done. While an inexperienced one will always distract others by calling their attention and may spoil the machine for the job more often.
Such also happens in life. A life without an experience is boneless and cannot hold itself together for maturity to set in.

How can we tell when someone is just trying to take advantage of our good heart?

If one had allowed oneself to be used by others, he would have gathered experience enough to detect and tell if someone is just trying to take advantage of his good heart or not. Like Isabel who later learned a lesson from her act of mercy to Anthonio; she can't be wooed again in that manner, she will always be careful of who she gives her heart to.
Therefore, if you shut your door from errors, truth will be shut out. Most times, it is not failing that is wrong but it is failing to learn that is wrong. So get the experience and become mature to continue your life on a smooth path.

Share a reflection of your own or a close one about a situation where you see someone taking advantage of you without compassion to achieve their personal goals.

Personal experience

After my graduation from college, I was in search for a job that will help me to practice what I have learned and to care for my immediate needs without having to bother my Parents and siblings. I applied to teach Science in a Privately owned School. I scaled through the interview and was employed.
Being the first job I ever had, I worked with all my heart and mind for my boss.
The time for my first monthly payment arrived, and it was postponed to a week, and after a week and some days, half payment was made by my boss.
The months that followed was either half payment made or a token was given for transport fare, so that I can keep coming to work and attend to students needs.
Finally, when I left the job, I left not just the work place but with some accumulated unpaid sum of money or salary. My boss then, was taking undue advantage of me. He used and dumped.
Why did this happened? Because to acquire a job was the main and most exciting thing on my mind to the extent that I accepted a job offer without having to negotiate for my wages/income. And I was so passionate about the job.
Having gathered that as an experience, I do not think I can make such mistake again. And through this post, I don't also think that readers of this experience will want to tow the same path.
source

My advice to someone currently experiencing this situation.

But if you are currently going through this experience, I will advice you to let endurance finish it's work.
The experience at the end will make you a better person. Do not kill yourself.

I invite @manuelhooks, @bossj23 and @ruthjoe to this contest.
Thanks .