As the teacher stood at the front of the classroom, my heart beat quickened and my palms started to sweat. I looked over to the right corner of my class and stared at 'HER'. She was my number one rival in my class and most surprisingly, she was my best friend. Sensing someone was looking at her, she turned her head and looked at me curiously. I gave her a brief smile and turned back to face the teachers. I lingered on the teacher's every words, waiting for her to give out the exams papers that my class. time seemed to slow down as she called upon the students to collect their exam paper. At last,there were only two people who didn't get their exam papers, Me, and Jolin.
The teacher asked both of us to come to the front of the classroom. "the top student for this year is Calista ! Let's give her a round of applause for the hard work she's put in this year." the teacher announced and passed me my exam paper. I smiled broadly at the class and bowed to them. This feeling of happiness was indescribable ! My hard work had finally paid off after one year! and most importantly, i had won Jolin in my studies. The sense of pride momentarily overwhelmed me and i went to gave Jolin a haughty smile. "but lets also congratulate Jolin for her hard work as well. She has gotten second in level for her studies. Both of you please continue to work hard and maintain your studies!"the teacher continued.
Jolin and i have been friends and rivals for the past two years. We are always competing with our studies and she has always been my only rival. None of my classmates has been able to overtake me and Jolin in our studies, so its either Jolin would get top in the level, or i would. Many times me have overtook each others but it never really affected our friendship. We would still help each other and our peers in our homework selflessly. As i took back my exam paper to my seat, i held my head high and many classmates turned to look at me with envy.
Although i am very happy about my hard work getting paid off, i never forget not to me complacent. I have to admit though, i am a little haughty after i got back my results. But after that, i will remember that i am not always the best in the world and i have to continue to strive for greater results and to work even harder.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
5) DISAPPOINTMENT
It all happened when i was in Primary Six......
It was a Friday morning and I woke up later than usual although it was a school day as i had to go for my piano examination. I ate my breakfast and prepared for it with a heavy heart. Frightful thoughts raced through my mind as I wondered how would i embarrass myself during the examination.
Although my parents reassured me that nothing would go wrong during the examination and I was able to pass it, I could not believe myself.
During the examination, everything went on very smoothly and I felt good. After I went out of the examination room, I heaved a huge sigh of relief and thought that I would definitely do well for the examination. Therefore, I did not think much about this matter until the day when i received my results.
When i opened my letterbox, I was full of confidence that I would pass the examination. However, when i pulled our that little slip of paper, m heart sank deeply. It was pure disappointment. I actually failed that examination that I thought I would manage to do well for! Months of anticipation and hopes of passing th examination were destroed at that very moment.
Tears began to flow down my cheeks uncontrollably as I ran up the stairs and to my house and then my room. I banged the room door and locked myself up in that little space of my own. Nothing could describe the mixed and bitter feelings that aroused me at that moment.
But I knew that It was only myself to be blamed.
2) Favouritism
"Miss Lim! Do you need help carrying your laptops and books?" Jenny approached the teacher after her recess with a grin on her face.
"Jenny, thank you very much! You're such a sweet girl. " Miss Lim gave a whole pile of books to Jenny.
"Aw, not again! Bootlicker!" words were shot at Jenny. The class became bustling and gossiping around when Jenny and Miss Lim came into class.
Jenny had always been the elites of the class, because of the help from favoritism of course, but also we cannot deny the fact that she is brilliant too though, but most of her top results is because of the favoritism teachers show for her. Therefore, as classmates we detest her because of the fact that without her hard work she did well throughout for her examinations.
Slowly, we moved on to our most crucial year where we were taking our biggest examinations which decided our future. In the first few semesters, Jenny was still doing well and she turned complacent. She thought she could still get her As in the 'O' levels but that was not the case anymore.
Nine months passed. No, 4 yeas passed in the blink of an eye and now, we were sitting in the exam hall, it was the same for every exams but the difference is we are taking a paper of a national level. We were prepared in the nine months of revision and intense studying. All our outings were changed to study dates. Our best friends were now textbooks, exam papers and revision books. Of our study dates, we obviously did not include Jenny in.
In the exam hall, most were prepared and were scribbling away with speed and precision. But, Jenny just stared blankly into the paper. Cold sweat broke out. She was not ready for this.
So, results were out. Jenny literally flunked her exam and was unable to move on to the next level of education. She was forced to redo her Secondary 4. She could not believe it and cried her heart out.
She realized, favoritism was not going to bring her anywhere.
Rivalry
Louise burnt a hot fire within her body that melted away any reason and moral limitations that once caged her most violent intentions. She was literally burning a thirty-nine degree fever. This was her fuel, the excruiciating pain and heat she felt nagging at the back of her eyeballs, the need to succeed, the innermost desire to WIN that other girl in her class.
They had been enemies, loggerheads and most importantly, rivals, for the longest period of time. These past few weeks had been the intense but gradual build up for the school's most prestigious competition. The Sports meet.
Louise had sabotaged the entire route they had to overcome in the sports meet. Thus making sure every single thing she did led to her victory and Germaine's humiliating downfall. It would be the best moment of her life, it very thought would have her grinning like a cheshire cat to herself. Louise carried out these plans with utmost discretion, paying attention to the even smallest of details.
It was finally the day, the day of the sports meet. The starting gun fired off with a ear shattering "BANG!" and all the contestants ran for their lives. However, Louise was frowning the entire way. All the traps she had set, all the places where she had slicked the track hoping Germaine would slip and fall. Slip and sprain her ankle, had all been cleaned obviously, for Germaine sailed through without a problem. Louise, huffed unhappily as Germaine shot her a dirty look, taking the lead in the course.
Germaine bounced through the obstacles, gracefully soared over the hurdles, ran like the wind possessed her. Louise was having a hard time comprehending why the obstacles for her lane were not the trickier than usual, why the hurdles were not exceptionally taller than the others, why the floor on her lane was not slippery anymore.
Running, pushing, sweating. Louise had all her joints aching and burning up. She was exhausted, she wanted to give up, but she wanted to win so badly. Her entire life she was behind Germaine, watching her back, watching her get to places first, score better. Louise was perpetually second compared to Germaine. This time, watching germaine on the lane next to hers, with a lope so effortless - Louise only managed to get angrier.
Louise felt a surge of heat rise up from her chest to fill her head, she took it as the sign that the body was ready to start sprinting towards the finish line that was clearly in sight. She glanced towards Germaine and stumbled in her step, Germaine was staring openly right back at her. It was obvious that her rival was just about as ready as her to start sprinting to the finish line.
They stared hard at each other, not losing their tempo, not increasing their speed either, the tension hung in the air. Each was testing how long they were going to run side by side for. Then, both simultaneously made a mad dash for the finish line. Louise ran like she never did before, she closed her eyes and tried to propel herself forward more. She felt the finishing line ribbon snap by her waist and opened her eyes, beaming like never before.
Not long after, the results were announced and against all her beliefs - Germaine was the victor. She reeled back in shock, this was not meant to be, this was the wrong outcome. She narrowed her eyes sharply and questioned herself, "But I felt the ribbon snap on my waist, and did my efforts... Wasted just like that?"
The roar of the crowd drowned out her thoughts and the exaltation of the victor was simply too much for her to bear. She did not want to accept this. She could not accept this. The scene before her faded to black and she crumpled to the ground. Her fall gathered no notice from the thousands that were in the stadium, ironically opposite from how her plots had been. Spotted and cleaned up neatly.
Karma had gone along for a slow leisurely stroll while she was plotting and implementing her cunning, now it had come back to slap her in the face. She had stretched the limits of her mental and physical strength and the last string had snapped.
They had been enemies, loggerheads and most importantly, rivals, for the longest period of time. These past few weeks had been the intense but gradual build up for the school's most prestigious competition. The Sports meet.
Louise had sabotaged the entire route they had to overcome in the sports meet. Thus making sure every single thing she did led to her victory and Germaine's humiliating downfall. It would be the best moment of her life, it very thought would have her grinning like a cheshire cat to herself. Louise carried out these plans with utmost discretion, paying attention to the even smallest of details.
It was finally the day, the day of the sports meet. The starting gun fired off with a ear shattering "BANG!" and all the contestants ran for their lives. However, Louise was frowning the entire way. All the traps she had set, all the places where she had slicked the track hoping Germaine would slip and fall. Slip and sprain her ankle, had all been cleaned obviously, for Germaine sailed through without a problem. Louise, huffed unhappily as Germaine shot her a dirty look, taking the lead in the course.
Germaine bounced through the obstacles, gracefully soared over the hurdles, ran like the wind possessed her. Louise was having a hard time comprehending why the obstacles for her lane were not the trickier than usual, why the hurdles were not exceptionally taller than the others, why the floor on her lane was not slippery anymore.
Running, pushing, sweating. Louise had all her joints aching and burning up. She was exhausted, she wanted to give up, but she wanted to win so badly. Her entire life she was behind Germaine, watching her back, watching her get to places first, score better. Louise was perpetually second compared to Germaine. This time, watching germaine on the lane next to hers, with a lope so effortless - Louise only managed to get angrier.
Louise felt a surge of heat rise up from her chest to fill her head, she took it as the sign that the body was ready to start sprinting towards the finish line that was clearly in sight. She glanced towards Germaine and stumbled in her step, Germaine was staring openly right back at her. It was obvious that her rival was just about as ready as her to start sprinting to the finish line.
They stared hard at each other, not losing their tempo, not increasing their speed either, the tension hung in the air. Each was testing how long they were going to run side by side for. Then, both simultaneously made a mad dash for the finish line. Louise ran like she never did before, she closed her eyes and tried to propel herself forward more. She felt the finishing line ribbon snap by her waist and opened her eyes, beaming like never before.
Not long after, the results were announced and against all her beliefs - Germaine was the victor. She reeled back in shock, this was not meant to be, this was the wrong outcome. She narrowed her eyes sharply and questioned herself, "But I felt the ribbon snap on my waist, and did my efforts... Wasted just like that?"
The roar of the crowd drowned out her thoughts and the exaltation of the victor was simply too much for her to bear. She did not want to accept this. She could not accept this. The scene before her faded to black and she crumpled to the ground. Her fall gathered no notice from the thousands that were in the stadium, ironically opposite from how her plots had been. Spotted and cleaned up neatly.
Karma had gone along for a slow leisurely stroll while she was plotting and implementing her cunning, now it had come back to slap her in the face. She had stretched the limits of her mental and physical strength and the last string had snapped.
5) disappointment
"This is not what it was supposed to be. How did it turn out this way? What happened?" Faintly, I heard a voice speaking beside me. I tried to figure out who is the owner of the voice, but my head hurt too much that it prevented me from thinking. Suddenly, it struck me. "Why is it a patch of darkness right here?" I struggled to open my eyes, and a ray of sunlight blinded me. I looked around, this place looked unfamiliar.
"You're finally awake!" The same voice which I heard, squeaked. The door opened, and there stood a stunning young lady in sports jersey. I stared at her for a moment, and pictures flashed through my mind.
It was a stadium, with supporters at the audience seats. Everyone was anticipating for the moment to start, and soon enough, everyone got the ball dribbling around the court. This went on for a period of time, the points were almost on par with each other. Suddenly, a huge blow strucked my head. I faintly heard my name being called before everything became pitched dark. That was when i realised...
"How's the match going on? Is it still on? What's the result?" I was squeezing the wrist of this lady, who happened to be my basketball team mate, so hard that she yelled.
It happened that after I was hit on the head by the basketball, I blacked out. A reserve replaced me and the match carried on. However, our opponent team was catching up with us, and their points increased tremendously. In the end, we lost. I was very disappointed by the fact. If I did not got hit on the head, i would not have blacked out. If I did not blacked out, I would still be playing the match. If I continued playing the match, we might not have lost. However, I know that those "if", would not returned. We could never turn back time, it is impossible to do so.
However, I would be lying if I said I am not sad over it, as my whole team practised and trained for very long for this match. We were quite confident that we would actually win. Now, I could only cloak my disappointment with a fake smile.
"You're finally awake!" The same voice which I heard, squeaked. The door opened, and there stood a stunning young lady in sports jersey. I stared at her for a moment, and pictures flashed through my mind.
It was a stadium, with supporters at the audience seats. Everyone was anticipating for the moment to start, and soon enough, everyone got the ball dribbling around the court. This went on for a period of time, the points were almost on par with each other. Suddenly, a huge blow strucked my head. I faintly heard my name being called before everything became pitched dark. That was when i realised...
"How's the match going on? Is it still on? What's the result?" I was squeezing the wrist of this lady, who happened to be my basketball team mate, so hard that she yelled.
It happened that after I was hit on the head by the basketball, I blacked out. A reserve replaced me and the match carried on. However, our opponent team was catching up with us, and their points increased tremendously. In the end, we lost. I was very disappointed by the fact. If I did not got hit on the head, i would not have blacked out. If I did not blacked out, I would still be playing the match. If I continued playing the match, we might not have lost. However, I know that those "if", would not returned. We could never turn back time, it is impossible to do so.
However, I would be lying if I said I am not sad over it, as my whole team practised and trained for very long for this match. We were quite confident that we would actually win. Now, I could only cloak my disappointment with a fake smile.
3)Success
Success is key for a person 's life as everyone only has one chance to live. Everyone in life i believe has a talent in them waiting to flourish and expressed out. Many may think that success are factors relating to ones level of social status becoming one of the worlds reputable man . But does that really bring about a success in man and life? Many may think its so but still it might not bring about happiness in a person. Its all in our aims and goals to believe in our goals to achieve our expectations of success.
But for me, my current aim of success is for the upcoming final year examination to bring me closer to my goal. In order for me to get in a good tertiary education . In order to achieve good results, utmost effort must be put into it and there is no time for me to neglect my studies
. This examination is a great hurdle for me and my parents have great expectations of me. I must not dissapoint them and i will take all cost to achieve my goal. I hope after this examination, everything onwards would be smooth sailing for me in order for me to secure a good job in future.
However, i have problems that i am facing now . For instance, there are many distractions at home in which i feel is rather disruptive for my studies. Like the computer and video games, i am trying to avoid all this distractions by asking my parents to even lock them away. I would even organise study groups for me to study outside in condusive places like librarys or quiet fast food restaurants for me and my friends to study there. I am bend on achieving my success at all cost and i will not allow any distractions to stop my progress. This concerns my future and i hope i would do well so i would not suffer in future.
This measures must be taken because i know i am prone to distractions. I sometimes also imagine how my parents looks would be like after i get my results. I hope this will let them feel proud of me and this is not all. There might still be lots of hurdles along the way and this is just the beginning of my own success story .
But for me, my current aim of success is for the upcoming final year examination to bring me closer to my goal. In order for me to get in a good tertiary education . In order to achieve good results, utmost effort must be put into it and there is no time for me to neglect my studies
. This examination is a great hurdle for me and my parents have great expectations of me. I must not dissapoint them and i will take all cost to achieve my goal. I hope after this examination, everything onwards would be smooth sailing for me in order for me to secure a good job in future.
However, i have problems that i am facing now . For instance, there are many distractions at home in which i feel is rather disruptive for my studies. Like the computer and video games, i am trying to avoid all this distractions by asking my parents to even lock them away. I would even organise study groups for me to study outside in condusive places like librarys or quiet fast food restaurants for me and my friends to study there. I am bend on achieving my success at all cost and i will not allow any distractions to stop my progress. This concerns my future and i hope i would do well so i would not suffer in future.
This measures must be taken because i know i am prone to distractions. I sometimes also imagine how my parents looks would be like after i get my results. I hope this will let them feel proud of me and this is not all. There might still be lots of hurdles along the way and this is just the beginning of my own success story .
3) Success
The beautifully sweet awareness and the electrifying excitement of success hit me like a G6. For some, the feeling of accomplishment may be already numbed by repetition. However, as it is still a magnificent, euphoric experience for me, I savour the glorious sensation whenever it occurs.
For a mediocre, non-jock student like me, having episodes in my life that actually lead to me accomplishing something triumphal and prestigious as rare. An instance of this would be the time I managed to clinch an award for the best English essay in a writing competition. So rapturous was my joy that my entire body was shivering with delight as I took the prize in front of the school. Another time is when I far surpassed all my targets for the End-Of-Year examinations, achieving an A1 for all my subjects. This was especially astounding due to the fact that I had been failing all my past tests. Observing the faces of my rivals, flabbergasted and open-mouthed at my results, was heaven on Earth for me. Even most of the teachers were perplexed as to how I attained my results.
It is for the ecstatic joy of success that I plan and execute very meticulously. First, I sieve out coming events in my life that I feel I can exceed in. Thenceforth, I carry out preparations to ensure that those events turn out to be successes, whether it be studying vigorously or training vigorously beforehand. As you can see, this is a very serious business for me.
However, you may ask me, what if my plan fails, and success is replaced with disappointment? I have no choice but to learn from the experience to better equip myself for the next successful venture.
For a mediocre, non-jock student like me, having episodes in my life that actually lead to me accomplishing something triumphal and prestigious as rare. An instance of this would be the time I managed to clinch an award for the best English essay in a writing competition. So rapturous was my joy that my entire body was shivering with delight as I took the prize in front of the school. Another time is when I far surpassed all my targets for the End-Of-Year examinations, achieving an A1 for all my subjects. This was especially astounding due to the fact that I had been failing all my past tests. Observing the faces of my rivals, flabbergasted and open-mouthed at my results, was heaven on Earth for me. Even most of the teachers were perplexed as to how I attained my results.
It is for the ecstatic joy of success that I plan and execute very meticulously. First, I sieve out coming events in my life that I feel I can exceed in. Thenceforth, I carry out preparations to ensure that those events turn out to be successes, whether it be studying vigorously or training vigorously beforehand. As you can see, this is a very serious business for me.
However, you may ask me, what if my plan fails, and success is replaced with disappointment? I have no choice but to learn from the experience to better equip myself for the next successful venture.
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