If I Had a Second Chance

Every year, Mon Coach Pro asks its students one simple question: "If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?" The answers reveal a great deal about how young Ivorians imagine their future.

Adjoua, a 19-year-old student from Bouaké, says that if she had more confidence, she would speak English in public without fear. "If I weren't so shy," she explains, "I would join the debate club at school. But every time I think about speaking in front of people, I freeze." Her coach told her: "If I were you, I would start small — speak to one person, then two, then a group."

Konan, on the other hand, dreams of a different career. "If I could choose again, I would study computer science instead of accounting," he says. "If I had known about coding bootcamps when I finished school, I would have applied immediately." Now, at 24, he is learning to code in the evenings. "If it weren't for online courses, I wouldn't have this opportunity at all."

For Aminata, the dream is more personal. "If I won the lottery tomorrow, I wouldn't keep the money for myself. I would build a small library in my neighbourhood, because if children had access to books, they would read more and do better at school." She adds: "Even without winning the lottery, if I saved a little money every month, I could still start a small book corner one day."

These stories show that the Second Conditional is not just a grammar rule — it is the language of hope, ambition, and self-reflection. When you imagine "what if", you often discover what truly matters to you.