Let’s Talk About Grades
When I was in first grade, I was a no one, I don’t get into the list of the brightest pupils. I hated my subjects especially Math. My grades were between 80 to 88, sometimes they even go lower than that.
And then, in grade two, I had two friends, unlike me, they always got in the top ten, but I was not never treated as an outcast. They accepted me like a real friend. Actually, we didn’t talk about our grades much. We just discuss them during the first time we see them, having me with the lowest average. But that did not really matter.
It was only during my fifth grade when signs had started to came out that I have an aptitude in Math. I can still clearly remember that our lesson back then was about prime and composite numbers. I was the only one who was able to identify that a very high number was in fact divisible by seven, thus, making it a composite number.
During the gap from second to fifth grade, I really struggled very hard with my subjects especially in Wika and Pagbasa, where I always get a grade of line of seven in my report cards. I also had a hard time with English, History, and even — believe it or not — in Computer. Sometimes, the thought of having to go to school during summer haunted me. Fortunately, I didn’t fail in any of my subject. Throughout the years, my best friends were always there for me. I did not feel that I was alone no matter how low my grades were at that time.
And then, I graduated from grade school satisfactorily. Having Math and MAPE as the subjects where I really excelled at. But my persistence in studying was not enough to earn an academic award. What I only got was a Loyalty Award.
That wasn’t really enough, what I want was an award that is related with academics. But at least, that was a good start, isn’t it? I had the feeling on how to go up the stage and receive my award. Unconsciously, I had set my mind to aim for high grades… be conscious with my grades. I think I was inspired by my best friend to aim for an academic award. And I didn’t know about it until I was in Fourth Year High School.
When I was in third year High School, I noticed that there were significant changes in my grades. No more line of sevens, lesser grades of line of eights, and more of line of nines. At the end of junior year, I think I was the top 11 of the batch. It was really good.
And then, in my fourth year, suddenly, everything has changed. From the first quarter of that school year, I was already the top three of my batch. I was acing most of my subjects. And that continued until I graduated. And all of these had resulted to a sweet and delicious fruit… I graduated with honors, I was the First Honorable Mention of my batch. But that was not all, I even got the Best in Math and Physics, another Loyalty Award, and other certificates. On the day I graduated, I was smiling all the time, stretching my muscles wide as I can. It was a splendid day.
I’m sharing this not because I want to brag, I wanted to — I don’t know the word — shall I say, inspire you with my story. I was able to prove to my self that you can reach what you like if you really want it. Every hurdle would just be chocolates in our eyes, ready to be munched and devoured. All we need is an inspiration. There’s no harm in trying, there’s nothing wrong in dreaming, because you don’t know that someday, that dream that you have tried to achieve will become a reality. But most of all, we have to remember that God is always there, He is just a prayer away, ready to help us.
PS: Yes, I know, this is not timely. I don’t know what made me think to write this and as I will lose my interest in writing this if I would wait even just for a day, I chose to share this to you now.
LSS: The Postal Service - Suddenly Everything Has Changed
