It was an absolutely stunning day, with the sun peeking softly through the window and me staring outside, lost in my own thoughts. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nervousness and anxiety building up inside me. Then, like a lightning bolt, it hit me. Today was Monday, the day our chemistry teacher would hand back our test results. The worst part was knowing that he would undoubtedly insult me for failing. I had grown accustomed to his hurtful remarks, constantly belittling me as if I were a mere speck of dirt.

I was trapped in my own world of depression, until I glanced forward and noticed the concerned expression on my front seat mate’s face. It was then that I realized tears were streaming down my cheeks. My friend let it pass for the time being, but during our break, he approached me and asked what was wrong. I poured out my heart to him, “Simpa, you have no idea. I used to effortlessly be one of the top students. But now, my grades are nowhere near the top 20. I’ve tried so hard, Simpa. I’ve tried to emulate the study habits of Fortunee, the first ranker. But nothing seems to work. I cover all the material ahead of time, sacrificing my leisure time just to study, but it’s all in vain. My weekends are spent in the library, yet my grades continue to plummet.”

“I’m exhausted, Simpa. I’m so incredibly tired,” I sobbed, tears flowing like a waterfall. It feels as though maybe God doesn’t want me to succeed. Sometimes, dropping out of school seems like the best option, especially when I think about how my parents are tirelessly working to afford my education.

After I finished pouring out my heart, Simpa stared at me for a moment before speaking. “Sympho, you’re being too hard on yourself. You’re pushing yourself too much. The pressure from your home life and your own expectations are causing you to go through the motions, but not truly studying. I’ve even noticed you zoning out during class.”

“Now, let me give you some advice,” he continued. “Do the right thing, at the right place, at the right time, with the right person. This means respecting the school timetable and adhering to it. If it’s time to relax, then relax. If it’s time to study, give it your all without any distractions. Do as much research as possible. And most importantly, manage your time effectively. Soon, you’ll start to see results. Don’t try to copy anyone else. Just be yourself and find your own best way of studying. And even if you fail, learn from your mistakes and adapt to the changes.” Just then, the bell rang.

The advice I received that day became my guiding principles. I put them into practice by first discovering my own unique way of studying, which turned out to be writing and connecting concepts to real-life experiences. During my leisure time, I made sure to relax and play volleyball, allowing me to momentarily forget about the struggles at home. When it was time to study, I dedicated all my energy and focus to the task at hand, following the teacher’s instructions without any distractions. Gradually, just as Simpa had predicted, my grades started to improve. I regained that sense of competence and confidence I had once possessed. This experience taught me the importance of finding someone to confide in and taking the time to reflect on oneself in order to adapt and grow mentally and intellectually.