I AM GOOD ENOUGH!

Just today a friend and I, in the midst of some discussion somehow came to talk about examinations and stuff. She did briefly mention to me that she had a poor memory and that she was slow in remembering things.

On hearing such things, I get a little worked up. I really wonder to myself, how can anyone say such things about themselves? Being the usual me, I told her not to call herself "slow" and that she should instead adopt a more positive mindset by saying things like "I'm getting faster." As I have mentioned earlier, everything begins with a positive state of mind. While I was doing some spring cleaning 2 days back, I came across a success mantra my math teacher once gave me as encouragement for the upcoming exams. It goes like this:

If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out of this world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It is all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can!

Thinking through, there is a lot of truth in this. The magic does not lie within the person who wrote it. It simply lies in the power of the choice of words. Let me share with you a little of what I learnt today. I learnt today, that if you listen to what people say, you can see a person's past, present and future in just his or her words.

For example, when I heard my friend say "I'm slow" today,2 important things flashed through my mind:

1. How this statement leaves no room for improvement
2. Does this represent a failure in today's educational system?

Let me go more in depth regarding point one 1st. When you say you are slow, you are actually putting your focus into the wrong thing. I do however understand that the 1st step to change is the recognition for a need of change and admitting to a weakness.

In the early 1990s, Donald Trump was nearly $1 Billion in debt personally and $9 Billion in debt corporately. An interviewer asked Trump if he was worried. Trump replied, "Worrying is a waste of time. Worrying gets in my way of working to solve these problems." Conversely, what I am actually trying to bring across is that the focus shouldn't be on the weakness, but rather on the solution. That is why Donald Trump and Steve Jobs is where they are at now.

As for point two, it crossed my mind in how the educational system brings out the worst in people. Like how it instills the mentality of the survival of the fittest ever since we entered primary school and how we grew up into adults holding such negative mindsets. The slow always feel slow and outclassed. Personally, I really abhor such values.

Robert. T Kiyosaki says this in regard to the failure the educational system: "Education leaves out the crucial proces of questioning what you don't know. Do you remember ever being taught that it's not what you know but what you don't know that's important? only when you find out something you don't know will you gain knowledge. To punish people for making mistakes actually prevents them from gaining knowledge. Learning is simple a process of making mistakes, finding out what you don't know and correcting."

At home, I have my lifetimes achievements displayed openly, and also the greatest disappointment I have faced pinned up on the wall for everyonel to see. 1 year ago, I had this letter representative of my disappointment or regret locked up inside my dark drawer hidden away from everyone including myself. What is this disappointment you ask? I'll share it openly with everyone now that I've got over it. It's a rejection of my application from SMU.

Here's what the letter says decorated in florid prose:

We have considered your application to SMU carefully. I regret to inform you that your application to SMU has not been successful.

SMU's admission process is based on a highly selective and competitive basis. SMU takes great care in selecting each student. However, SMU had recieved a large number of applicants who were very good. As a result, we are unable to offer places to many applicants whom we are confident can succeed at university.

We thank you for your interest in SMU. I wish you success in your educational endeavours.


How sweet of them. Seriously. Looking back now, it really did hurt my self-esteem. Also notice how they mentioned "Competitive basis" in the letter. Dog eat dog world. Put it simply, it just says "You are not good enough for us." In regards to this, I suspect that this is exactly where the flaw in the educational system is. The insufficient attention put into students with similar dreams, aspirations and ideals. The inadequate attention in cultivating and nurturing them into highly confident, highly motivated and purposefully driven individuals, who at the face of failures, grow stronger in character. Individuals who sees problems as challenges, and when faced with adversities, disappointments and failures, tell themselves this: "I AM GOOD ENOUGH!"