As I closed the door of the store’s refrigerator, disappointed that they don’t sell my favorite brand of chocolate milk, I was approached by an older lady. She asked me to read the expiration date on a carton of eggs. I read her the date, believing she had left her reading glasses at home. She thanked me and explained she didn’t know how to read. She went on to tell me that her family was very poor as a child, so instead of being sent to school, she was sent to work. She also complained about the lack of regulations that did not protect her from working at a young age. I felt sorry for her and all the other people who did not have the means to learn how to read. Reading seems like a basic milestone, so I was appalled to come across someone in this time and age who did not know how. It opened my eyes to the reality that not everything is certain. When I am feeling unmotivated, I remember this encounter. 

School is an opportunity many, including myself, take for granted. I have conversations multiple times a day where my classmates and I complain about an assignment, a class or school in general. The ability to complain about education is a privilege. Many people are not promised or allowed the opportunity to receive a formal education. In Afghanistan, girls are forbidden from receiving education beyond the primary level. Although they may long for further education or feel passionate about academics, they are denied that right. Many believe anything is possible if you try your best, but that mindset is also a privilege. Many people may not have the means to make their dreams come true. 

Although my mother was fortunate enough to finish high school, she could not attend college for financial reasons. She was once a girl who believed she would become a pharmacist and open a pharmacy in her home country, Bolivia. She finished high school and decided to get married in order to not be an additional financial burden to her parents, who had 11 other children to care for. Today, my mother does the best she can to make sure I get the opportunity she always wished for. 

So, when given the chance to show school our best effort, we should take advantage because we are fortunate enough to do so. Of course, there is more to life than school, but it makes up a big part of it. If we are devoting so much time to school, we might as well put forth our greatest effort. This could mean different things for everyone. It could mean aiming for a passing grade, or it can very well mean aiming for valedictorian. As long as you are  doing all you  possibly can while maintaining a realistic goal for your abilities, you are taking advantage of the blessings given to you. School should never get to a point where it dictates your life, but there are always chances for improvement. 

I understand that other factors influence how we accomplish things, like learning disabilities and issues with motivation. Although these circumstances may make school difficult, attempting is what counts. It is also important to keep in mind that a bit of slack from time to time is perfectly healthy and does not define who you are. I am guilty of this too. After a long school day, I find it impossible to pay attention. Thankfully, I had just enough energy in my seventh period psychology class to learn about the humanistic theory! This theory proposes that to reach self-actualization (which means the process of fulfilling one’s full potential), one must focus on the present and the future while ignoring elements of the past. If we focus on the task at hand instead of the assignments we’ve failed to complete, improving is easier. 

This mindset of trying your best on an assignment can be applied to anything we do, not just our studies. Whether it’s taking a few extra minutes to perfectly fold your laundry or searching for the cure to a disease, do the best you possibly can. Putting in effort and failing is always better than accomplishing without trying because nothing is more peaceful than knowing you did the best you can.