“Why is my heart beating so fast?” I asked myself. It seemed as if something bad was going to happen. Just then my math’s teacher stepped in with a pile of papers in her hand.

“Good morning! Now here’s the result of your math exam. I’m going to distribute your answer sheets. Okay, Sara, Daniel, Jack, Ashley …,” she started calling names one after the other and the students collected their papers.

As she called my name, I got up from my desk slowly and with a racing heart moved towards her. My heart almost stopped when I saw my result – it was an ‘F’.

“I’m quite disappointed! I thought you would do better as you do work hard,” Ms Sasha remarked.

My eyes filled with tears and I saw many heads gazing at me. It was so embarrassing. I moved back to my seat and lowered my head. I can feel my tears rushing through my eyes and rolling down my face.

Soon the recess bell rang, everyone went out, but I was still in that position. I felt someone placing a hand on my shoulder.

I lifted my head and wiped my tears. Ms Sasha was sitting beside me.

“You know, when I was young, I used to fail in my math exams too!” she disclosed softly.

My eyes widened and I almost asked her ‘Then how are you able to teach math so well?’ but what I managed to reply was, “But you are really good!”

“But I wasn’t in the beginning! You must be thinking how I became so good in math?” she asked with a smile.

I shook my head to say, “Yes.”

“So, what happened was that when my teacher gave me my report card, I too had failed in math. I cried a lot but I didn’t give up. That very day when I went home, whatever the teacher had taught us in the class, I repeated and practiced it. So daily when I went home, I used to repeat and practice my lessons. And soon my hard work paid and I passed the final exams with a distinction!

“I was so happy! And I started loving math more and more. Every subject, whether it’s math, English, science, etc, every subject needs attention and your love. If you’ll love them, they’ll love you back,” she completed with a hopeful smile on her face.

I smiled back.

“So? What are you going to do when you’ll go to home today?” she asked.

“I’ll repeat what has been taught today! And I’ll practice!” I said with determination.

That very day when I went home, I studied hard and focused on whatever was taught in the school that day, and soon it became my habit.

And when my finals arrived, I was quite satisfied with my preparation.

“Hey! Today the teacher said she would give us our math result! Best of luck!” Jack wished me.

“Same to you!” I said with a smile.

“You look quite satisfied? Are you expecting an ‘E’?” Ashley taunted and started laughing.

I ignored it with a smile because I knew I’d worked hard just as Ms Shasha had directed me. Ms Shasha stepped in the class and we can see the answer sheets in her hand.

“Okay, so, you all know that today is your math’s result and I’m going to start with A+ graders, and there is only one A+ grader this time, and I feel proud to announce that she is Hazel Roberts!”

My eyes widened with delight, and I could see many mouths open in utter astonishment. I proudly stepped out of my seat and received my answer sheet.

The teacher patted my back and said, “Proud of you! Hazel! Keep it up!”

It was the proudest moment for me. I was happy because I had improved and learnt an important lesson to never lose hope, stand firm against problems, find their solutions and work hard on them, because hard work always pay.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 23rd, 2015