I had nothing to do. So, I thought of looking at my pictures from the past 3 years because now I’m in college and losing confidence. I wonder if I’m doing okay and if what I’m doing is right. But when I looked at my old pictures, I realized that I’m so different from who I used to be, and all the hard work I put into studying these past three years has been a huge achievement. From grade 1 to grade 7, my grades always started with a 7, and I was used to that kind of grade. I stopped studying in 2016 because I couldn’t do it; my grade was 69, and I failed. I don’t know why. My teachers always compared me to the ‘smart’ students back then. But one day, I realized I shouldn’t continue like this because I also thought about our family situation and shouldn’t waste my parents’ hard work sending me to school. When I entered grade 8, I put in more effort. That’s where I started getting grades in the 80s, and I was so happy to have an average in the 80s. Then the pandemic came. With modules I didn’t like, and that’s where my grades started to be in the 90s after being consistently in the 80s. In grade 11, I worked hard. I reviewed so much for the first time in my academic journey. And in one subject, I got 56/60. I still remember that day; I felt like shouting with joy because it was the first time that had happened. That one instance ignited something in me, and I told myself that if I put in the effort and did my best, I could achieve anything, and it wouldn’t be based on intelligence but on hard work. I remember a teacher in grade 11 telling us that if you want to surpass someone intelligent, you need to double their effort. So, I took that to heart. And now, at the end of grade 11, my adviser messaged me, saying I was one of the honor students. I was so happy then, especially when I went up on stage for the first time with my mother. I used to dream of this, but I never thought someone like me could achieve it!
Before I got that, I went through sleepless nights and tears as an average student who wasn’t exceptional. I doubled my study efforts. I graduated as an honor student at the end of grade 12. I started high school with an average of 75 and finished with an average of 92.
That’s all… I just thought of looking back because I’m starting college. I want to remind myself how hard I worked before I achieved those things. Because every time I feel discouraged, I always do this. My academic journey isn’t detailed here, but maybe I’ll mention the details in my next posts individually.
From this:
To this:
I know this is still lacking. But I’m growing daily in my learning journey. I will work harder. To improve better in the future.