This is that time of my schooltime,
When I was a dreamy girl with no ambitions.
I dragged myself and my heavy school bag until 11th grade, and then,
I failed.
There are firsts for everyone and this was my first of failure.
The story goes like this.
Since I scored decent enough marks in 10th grade that is,
8 CGPA or 76%,
I was “eligible” to enter 11th science.
With my obscure yet namesake dream of becoming an IAS officer,
I thought to myself that civil services can be done with any stream.
I went ahead, sat for a chemistry lecture, and then I miserably misunderstood everything.
My teacher would embarrass me in front of everyone.
Still, I carried the legacy of being a non-studious girl.
Sometimes I tried to understand covalent bonds, got enrolled in classes,
but by the end of 1st semester, I thought it was not meant to be.
Meanwhile, I enjoyed my 11th grade just like a youthful girl.
Then, the final exams came.
I geared up to understand the best of chem, physics and bio, just so that I could get through.
With a clear heart and blurred vision, I went ahead,
Only to find to out one day,
That I got failed.
Failure can look like this. I scored 11/70.
This was the biggest failure of my life.
The fantasy-colored glasses were removed and I was finally able to see everything.
I always tiptoed my way through exams but never saw this coming.
So, tasting and breathing that failure, I took the biggest decision of my life.
I changed my stream from Science to Arts.
The journey was different now. Society and friends alienated me.
I decided that I would study hard and never look back.
It took some months for the administration to change my stream.
I was determined this time.
Few months later, I found myself to be a bookworm. Movies like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag would ignite the fire in me to keep fighting.
I was alone. But not that alone with my real friends from the science section.
I kept motivating myself and my arts friends to keep studying and improving in every mock test.
Then that day arrived when I gave my final exams. My family members accompanied me with low expectations but deep love and support no matter what.
I gave my exams like it was the fight of my life.
Few months later,
The result day arrived.
Even today, I don’t have the right words to describe that day.
Along with everyone in my family, I sat down to open the website and check the result.
What I saw in my front of my eyes is still fresh with me.
93.20%
I was one of the toppers in 12th grade.
I won at life.
This day paved the way for me to realize that I could achieve anything with pure hard work and determination.
And this chapter of my life continues to inspire me.