02-Discovering a Better "Me"#
We are not without value, but without discovering our own value.
——Epigraph
The wind howls angrily, and the rain gets heavier and heavier.
At this moment, I sit in the room, staring at the pouring rain outside the window, unable to help but think that I have no value and start crying.
A few days ago, the school organized an activity that required all classmates to participate and perform on the playground. In order to prepare for this performance, I practiced day after day at home, trying my best to keep up with the pace of the class.
The day of the performance arrived.
As soon as I entered the school, I found that I was feeling very unwell, with a severe stomachache. I had to go to the medical room alone for treatment. At this very moment, the performance started, and no one in the class noticed that I had left. They were all performing on the school playground, while I stood aside, alone and complaining.
At that moment, I felt that I had no sense of existence and little value.
But later on, I slowly discovered that I am actually a better version of myself, I just haven't realized my own potential yet.
A seemingly ordinary but meaningful weekend arrived. The homeroom teacher posted a notice in the class group, saying that a school recitation competition would be held in a month, and everyone could actively participate. After seeing this message, my mom excitedly said to me, "Son! You should participate in this activity, you haven't participated in any before!" I, who rarely participated in activities, didn't want to go at all.
My dad also chimed in, "You should go, don't be afraid. Even if you fail, it doesn't matter. Just think of it as an opportunity for growth!"
After my parents "retreated," I received a "decree" from my mother: "I have already signed you up, anyway, you have to go."
In the end, reluctantly, I wrote the draft and slowly handed it in.
What should I do? I ended up participating. But how should I do it when I have never participated in this kind of competition before? Well, I can only continue to participate with a brave face, I thought.
Preparing for this competition took a lot of time and effort. Every day after school, no matter how busy I was, I would always find time to work on my draft. On weekends, I gave up my leisure time and practiced recitation.
Every day, I could hear my recitation through a window.
Finally, the competition arrived! When the bright spotlight shone on me, I felt nervous! But I took a deep breath and adjusted my mindset to recite.
After finishing, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, and I performed so well!
The next day, when I returned to class, everyone's eyes were on me, and they started discussing me—I smiled. Yes! I discovered a better version of myself and gained growth!
The rain drizzles down, getting smaller and smaller...
Final score for this essay: 46/50
After class, I asked the teacher to explain the test paper. The teacher's comment: Overall good. Three highlights in the entire essay: the beginning, the ending, and "the day of the performance."