I’ve had a bit of a
flashback. It’s not big, it’s not cool, but it probably is clever.
I've remembered I own a
Blue Peter Badge. It’s a green one. I was awarded it, aged 10, after
implementing a recycling programme at my Brownie Pack. And then of course writing
to Blue Peter, with an accompanying illustration, to tell them of my efforts.
God, what a pretentious-mini-eco-warrior.
Although having a Blue
Peter badge granted you access into all of the coolest attractions - science museums,
galleries and the like - it also turned out that it didn't make you particularly
popular. Seems no-body likes a swot.
And I fear a swot I was. I
was good at maths, (ability long since lost) spoke properly (parents beat me
for any hint of Wolvo slang) and
completed my own extra curricular homework projects. (It’s not my fault I owned
a science kit.)
My advice to my 10 year old Blue Peter Badge
owning self would have been: do what you’re best at, do more of it, and never
worry about being behaving like a swot, because later in life you’ll realise
everyone successful is slogging away behind the scenes whilst loudly pretending
not to.
Besides, with a couple of exceptions, there is
no such thing as adult swot.
I would have additionally offered my 10 year
old self the following advice: do not
have a fringe before you know how to blow dry, never ever shave your lovely
dark eyebrows, and dressing like a Goth probably isn’t the answer.
But that’s a story for a different day.
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