“Asif! Leave it! You can’t do it, loser!” one of Asif’s class fellow said, while snatching the maths question paper from his hand.

Asif had no interest in his studies and was always found asleep in the backbenches of the class during the lectures. He used to play games all night and sleep the entire day. His parents were fed up with his habits and now found that scolding him was nothing more than talking to a brick wall.

Though Asif didn’t love studies, he didn’t feel good if someone bullied him for being weak in studies or made him feel inferior. He was angry at his classmates who bullied him just because he got low scores.

One day, during the lunch break, Asif was sitting alone under the tree at a corner of the ground, immersed in thoughts of his messed up studies. He was thinking how his parents and teachers did not appreciate his irresponsible attitude towards studies and how the classmates were always bullying him.

Bilal, Asif’s best friend had searched the entire school for Asif, yet he was unable to find him. When Bilal finally got tired and went to the ground to have a little rest, he saw Asif sitting in the corner. Bilal was concerned for Asif and wanted to help him. So he ran to him and gently patted on his shoulder.

“Hey, what happened Asif? Why are you sitting here? I had been looking for you in the entire school,” Bilal showed concern.

Asif looked depressed and was reluctant to confess anything to Bilal. He stayed silent.

“If there’s something I can help you out with,” then Bilal asked him gently.

On Bilal’s persistent requests, Asif busted into tears, “I don’t want to live this life, I feel bad when anyone tries to make me feel inferior to them just because I don’t get good grades. Does this make me a bad person if I don’t get good marks like other kids? Or does this determine I am a loser?”

Bilal was confused but was happy as well, at least Asif spoke out. Then Bilal tried to console his friend.

“My dear friend, I know good grades can’t judge a person’s abilities, but just try to understand that what matters is not the exams, but our learning process. What you learn from school life, exams and daily life is what matters the most. These are all the things that will help you in future. If you study hard and gets good grade, it’s like icing on the cake; but if you don’t get any position and you just get passing marks even after hard work, it doesn’t matter. Just work hard for it even if you lose. It is making the effort that counts, not the outcome.

“And as for the bullies, don’t get depressed. Even those who become successful were bullied at some point. You know Michael Phelp, the Olympic gold medallist; Michael Phelps was also bullied when he was a child. So this is also a part of life.”

Asif was quiet, but felt the burst of energy in him. “Do you think I can do well in academics and co-curricular activities?” he asked hesitantly to Bilal.

“Yes, I believe, you can!” said Bilal.

Asif, after reaching home, freshening up and quickly gulping down his lunch, went straight to his room to study hard instead of wasting his afternoon in playing games. Asif studied the whole afternoon till 6 o’clock in the evening.

Asif followed the same routine for a month and even after that. There was a great improvement in his performance, homework and class work. Now, only a week was left in his final examination.

Asif started studying even harder and in the exams he performed quite well. A week after their exams was the result day and like always, parents were also called.

The results were announced in the auditorium of their school where all the kids were distributed with their report cards and got remarks for their performance from their class teacher as well as principal.

Asif felt confident for he was no longer a dull kid. He was confident for he had performed so well. He sat with his parents waiting for his name to be called out.

When Asif’s name was called out, he went towards the teacher, slowly as he felt a bit nervous now. Some of his classmates who had bullied him were also present there. With a smiling face, he was handed over the envelop by his principal and he heard his class teacher, standing there, say this, “Congratulations Asif, you have shown tremendous improvement. It shows that you worked hard!”

He took the report card and came back to where he was sitting with his parents. His mother pulled out the report card from the envelop. Asif felt numb. His mother’s anxious expression changed to a joyous one and she hugged him immediately.

Asif had obtained 89%, with grade A in all subjects. It was a drastic improvement as Asif was a student who got C and D grades.

“Hard work always pays back!” Asif heard Bilal’s words from behind him. Asif turned and saw Bilal. Both boys hugged each other and laughed out loud.

So kids, don’t let yourself down, always feel motivated and confident because nothing is impossible, all you need is confidence and persistent hard work.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 9th, 2022