Influential Event

This event was one that took place back when I was 14. It was during the December holidays after I have completed my secondary two end-of-year examinations. I can clearly recall the happenings on that day and how it has changed my life forever. 

I was never an A-grader. My results were mediocre results ever since I embarked on the education journey. On that weekday afternoon, I was at my cousin's place after he accompanied me to school to purchase the huge load of textbooks for the next year. He was studying in a polytechnic at that moment so he had his own projects to work on. All I was left are big bags of textbooks and a set newspaper that day. Out of boredom and curiosity, I picked up the newspaper for the very first time and started flipping through.

It was somewhere in the “Home” section of the Straits Times, where the article is discussing about studying tips and some advices from educators who have “been there, done that”. Some tips that caught my eye were to “Start early, be ahead of your lectures” and also “Enjoy the process”.

Out of complete boredom, I thought to myself “Why not?” and begin unwrapping those textbooks and started reading the chapters.

Lo and behold, I started making notes and asking myself questions, which I clarified with the teachers when school reopened. The process of learning began to be more interesting and I actually enjoyed when my queries were being answered. The efforts paid off when I received my grades thereafter, and the positive reinforcement spurred me on to continue this habit, which eventually landed me in where I am today.

Indeed, the event was one so small, and to some, insignificant. It was just a little boy’s curiosity paired with a timely published article. Little does he know how his little act out of boredom would have brought him so much further in his journey of education.

(327 words)