My earliest impression of schooling and education is quite unpleasant. I always had to struggle throughout my school because I was less attentive and more distracted. I attended a summer school in my 3rd grade. Sometimes I felt I wasn’t getting anything what was being taught daily. Sometimes I felt alone and overwhelmed with my low grades. I wasn’t good in studies and never really was able to focus. I never want to miss my summer again. I already disliked the school and to do it in the summer had me more stressed. Soon I left that school partially because I disliked the teaching methods and partially because I wasn’t too keen.

I felt disappointed and started to look low at myself. I acted like I’m strong, can handle the changing situations even though I know I was terrible. So, I kept myself tangled with irresponsible nature and let my mind wander to meaningless things and habits. It wasn’t that I wouldn’t get the concepts taught, I was not so willing or say determined.

And then it happened. I made progress slowly and steadily. At 7:57am I entered my school building on one sunny cold day in my 8th grade. I said good morning to the secretary whom I met on my way to the school auditorium. I waited there to be called upstairs for classes. The day looked usual and I too was my usual sneaking in my phone, without getting noticed, as the classes didn’t start until 8:05am. The principal and dean were strict about using phones and especially strict on me as I was one of those kids who was always targeted for not obeying the rules. Then I made my way towards my class. I thought to myself that getting average passing marks is all I need to be promoted to the higher class. At that time, I was giving multiple tests for high school and also the most dreaded by me “SATS”. I used to be up day and night as studying was hard for me. These chains of thoughts were running in my mind while I was physically in the class. I was leaving for lunch with my friends after my first three classes of the day. The principal had put the honor roll students list on the bulletin board outside the main office. And then, I stopped. That was real. My name flashed on the honor roll list. I remember walking past to it in 6th and 7th grade as I never really cared about the honor roll. As long I was passing that was fine to me.

But that 8th grade year I hit the honor roll. It totally made me view my education differently and gave me more of a motive to strive and do better. I went home and gave the big news to my parents. My family and friends were proud of me and that really made me feel special on that day. I have heard stories of dropping out for whatever circumstances from older relative friends. That did impact my psychology and made me put less efforts on my education. But I know my situation wasn’t that bad. I thank my parents for getting me up every day. My father always quoted Abraham Lincoln – “the best way to predict your future is to create”. This still resonates in my mind. I understand that I don’t have to be good in everything. I just needed to be more mature and responsible.

I realized that it’s all a matter of choices and education just show us the right roadmap to lead a successful life. It is not something to be scared of, it simply a test of our abilities. I need not always get good grades but should also not desert myself from learning as it is a never-ending process. It is not just grades, honor rolls or endless assignments. It is way up and beyond. Education has definitely made me who I’m today, ‘my better version’. It gave me discipline and boosted my skills and awareness about our surroundings. It opens the world to me in my little head.