Same Post, Different Struggles!!!

A few years ago, in the city I used to live in earlier, I was the teacher’s pet. I had been in that school since kindergarten. So, almost all teachers knew me well. A few of my teachers recommended my name for our school’s student council.

I went through the interview, and the only thing I was thinking of was all the respect I would get from the younger kids. At the age of 8, all I wanted to do was to show off to people. So in the interview, I tried to come off as a girl who was really keen on getting the post of House Captain. I think I knew that I was going to get the post anyway, so I didn’t really care. Guess what? I got the post.

My parents were ecstatic. We celebrated it, but I behaved as-if it was the most normal thing to happen. I took advantage of the situation and ate all the ice-cream I could. For a few weeks after the selection, me and my “council mates” went through rigorous and gruelling training (I’m not even kidding!), but in the end it was a sweet reward (that I didn’t really appreciate)!

My parents were called into school and were able to savour the moment with me. We got photographs taken with the Principal of our school, which, for me, was a big deal. Later on, our Principal came and congratulated all of us personally, making sure we got the message of her pride in us.

And so our duties commenced. We looked out in the hallways for students who weren’t in proper uniform, we watched over our school assemblies every single day, and also had little meetings with the Supervisor of the school to let her know how things were running.

We were all having fun. Amidst all the fun, we never realised when the school year ended. Our examinations went by in a breeze, and we all passed with flying colours.

A new academic year started, that one passed, we moved away, and before I knew it, I was passing out of eighth standard.

By this time came selections for the student council. Again… This time, me and one of my extremely competitive friends babbled for hours on who should get the position of the Student Editor, that we were both yearning to get.

Soon, we got the forms for participation. My hand trembled as I put the pen to paper, making millions of spelling mistakes. I waited in anticipation as our teacher told us the outcome of the first round. She announced the names of all my friends, and as she got towards the end, my eyes were getting teary, because she still hadn’t announced my name. My name did get called in the end!

This meant that I got through to the second round, which was going to be even more tricky. A few days later, after several discussions about it with my friends, the day of the second round came. I admit, it was pretty tricky. But I got through it okay. How, you ask? I passed through to the third round, which is going to be a direct interview with the Principal and the Chief-Executive Principal of our school!

I was ecstatic - sorry, I am ecstatic! We got these results a few days ago, and all that I could do that day was grin stupidly like a Cheshire Cat! The round with the Principal is to happen any day now.

When I came home and told my parents, all they could do was grin like Cheshire Cats as well!

As I sat and thought about what my next blog post should be, my mind slowly drifted to my selection for the interview. Then, I realised something.

When I became House Captain in fourth standard, I got the post by default, because till that moment, I didn’t have to do anything for it, and had always maintained a good relationship with my teachers. Now that I am having to struggle for getting through every round, I realise what I have been doing for so long. I have been taking things for granted.

Getting that post in fourth standard was a piece of cake for me, when everyone else was struggling for it. For my super-competitive friend, it is easy, because all the teacher of this school know him well, not me, or anyone else, for that matter. I think he is taking things for granted, because he doesn’t realise that what he already has is what others are struggling for.

This has taught me one thing: Never take anything in life for granted, for you never know when you’ll lose it.

What do you think about this? Have you taken anything for granted, and then realised your mistake?

This is all I have for today. Till next time, Sayonara!

Sincerely

She Who Likes to Read.