HOW DO THEY FEEL
A Different Definition to "Imagination"
Imagination is a unique capability given to human. It is the origin of all the innovations and creations in the world. Imagination is good but it is a double-edge sword, it is potential for good or evil. When it is properly used, it can be a blessing for mankind but when it is misused it can create a disaster.
J.K Rowling has in her speech given a different definition to “imagination”. She advised us to imagine the effect of our decisions or actions on other people before we move on. If we always put ourselves in other people’s shoes, we may be able to create more win-win situation in every case.
THE DAY BEFORE EXAM
An ordinary story which is extraordinary to me
I can still recall the time when I was sitting at the balcony in my house, holding my Financial Management textbook, trying to memorise as many words as I can. I knew very clear that I’m going to see an “F” on my result slip for the very first time in my life. The only thing I have in my mind at that moment was what I can do to hurt myself so that I can absent from the tomorrow exam, with a strong valid reason.
God bless me. I didn’t do any silly thing.
The next day I entered into the exam hall with a mess in my mind. I used 15 minutes to finish a 3-hour paper. Result? You know it. I made a call to my teacher in my hometown after the exam and I can hardly remember how long did I cry on the phone. I’m totally lost at that moment. I don’t know where I can get the money to pay my next semester fee. I dare not to tell my mum that I’m going to lose my scholarship.
I was looking for someone to comfort me but none of my friends willing to believe me. Well, even I myself cannot believe that a guy who got straight As’ right from his UPSR to SPM and graduated from his diploma with a 3.97 CGPA could fail a paper. What makes this fact more impossible is the coursework report written by this guy got the highest mark in his batch.
I was extremely down at that moment. But someone throw these funny yet encouraging words to me which totally changed my perspective on my current failure. She told me that the degree cert is just a costly toilet paper, it can’t define me. The only use of this paper is helping me to get a chance for an interview. Nothing more.
I suddenly understood that what makes me who I am is my thoughts and my doings, not the grades on my result slip. At that point, I felt truly relieved. That failure stripped the stress off from my shoulder. I never study to get the compliments of people around me. I never strived to get the highest coursework mark just to make my coursemates know about me and respect me. No more disguise.
My failure is totally incomparable with what Rowling has experienced. But the lesson I learned from that failure is the same with hers. Failure makes us tougher and more capable in living our life. Failure doesn’t destroy our life but helping us to build a stronger foundation for future good life.
There’s still a long journey to our ending. Mentor Mu Zi Li (translated) said: “You never lost at the ending point, only the starting point.” Success is not for the one who is leading the race but the one who keeps on running. As long as we are able to stand up again, success is always waiting for us.