When was the moment you felt yourself different from before? Was it the time that you got rewards from studying hard? Or the time that you did a great job? Well! Mine happened in the year of 2021. Let us begin the story back to August 2021.
In 2021, the Pandemic was not over yet. I thought this virus would leave us soon but it didn’t. Therefore, I rested for another year without doing anything. However, the reality was cruel. My annual exam results in year 2021 were released and guess what? I failed my exam! I was quite surprised with my results because I was performing well in the previous exam.

Soon after the exam, the summer holiday started and I didn’t change much. I spent my holiday chatting on the phone and lying on my bed. Until one day, my sister asked me, ‘Are you satisfied with your life right now? Are you alive or just existing?’
Her words were so inspirational and I was fuelled with motivation. I knew I would be a Form 3 student soon. I would have to decide what to study in the coming three years, which would possibly determine my future! “What am I doing here?” I thought. I wasn’t supposed to stay in the bed every single day! When thinking about my life, my future and my study, I started to get anxious and depressed.
I had spent two years in my secondary school already, and my studenthood was a disaster. I had no directions for my study and I had no way to solve my problem. I lost myself. I totally lost myself without realising the importance of study and the planning for future. I didn’t understand what was happening. The world was changing so fast. Everyone was doing their best and they were fighting for what they wanted. At that moment, I felt like I was disqualified from this world.

It was the time to change! I should try new things and explore what I desire the most. Who do I want to be? What is my goal?

After thinking about it, I started to step out of my comfort zone and the results turned out to be great. I know that was a great start. I felt happier, brighter and more confident. Although we couldn’t predict what would happen next, I would at least try and figure out the end all by myself. Just give everything a shot! Of course there will be disappointing moments. However, you’ll learn life lessons from failure that you won’t easily understand from a textbook. The key to success is to discover it on your own.

That was the story of me being different for the first time. The moment of epiphany could make us happy. The happiest thing that happened in this terrible year was getting to know more about myself. I finally met my goals and found my happiness. I am proud of being a person who fights for my dream. Life is tough but you won’t grow without hardship. You should try to live your lives to the fullest and keep working because rewards are coming to you!