Results are Out!!!

This is a tad bit personal  but I guess it will be relevant right now. So, I wrote a motivational piece before my boards and now that I'm on the other end, my views have changed. This is what I said before boards.

"Teachers make it sound quite treacherous but it's actually not all that bad. We are definitely lacking effort, that's all. No matter how horrible your marks have been, whether it has catered to your expectations or not, it's alright. We still have time.

I often look at cricket for motivation and inspiration. So I'm asking you to look at players who debuted as leg spinners but are now known as one of the best batsmen in tests, almost Bradmanesque. Look at the man who is so dedicated that he is bored of scoring runs. He took up on a different lifestyle and upped not only his game but that of his team. Look at the team which never gives up despite being chokers for the last 28 years and its leaders who always lead with their head held high.

One day is all that takes to wake from our sleep. All the best for everything you do from today. We are gonna rock our boards."

I disagree with the part where I said that you need to be okay with the marks you scored. You may think that my parents probably told me that I haven't done well and that is why I'm writing this. It is quite the opposite actually. I am the only person telling myself that I have underperformed while everyone else has been quite supportive. So many people told me that marks don't matter that I am actually starting to question why we need exams in the first place. Jokes apart, they probably don't matter in the bigger picture as life is not all about a number and will give you more opportunities to prove yourself. But today, it matters to you. Because whether you put effort or not, you have a number in your mind. And when you don't get that number but all your peers do, it hurts. I believe I did give my all but it was in vain and today I am definitely grieving. I'm still comparing myself to others and thoughts like "you're worthless" cross my mind. It's not about proving a point to others - it's about proving a point to myself. I know that a couple of weeks later nobody will be bothered about my marks. I really do believe that they won't make a lot of difference to my life. But today, it matters so so much.

Tomorrow is a new start. I will get past this and look at other avenues to prove myself. And I will look at my greatest source of motivation, cricket, and overcome everything life throws at me. Because as Harry Potter rightly said, "Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now, students. If they can do it, why not us?"