I believe in hard work. “If your going to do something, you might as well do it right,” is my mother’s motto, and if I think about it, mines as well. If you are going to do anything that ultimately will hold your name along with it, shouldn’t you do it properly? Shouldn’t it be well done? Why do something and put half the work in when you can do something and be proud of it. Working hard on something can relate to anything.

It was a sunny, cheerful day on a Wednesday morning. I walked to my first period, Pre-Calc, with my friend, as we joked about a one-liner that her boyfriend used. Anyways, we needed to rush to class before the five minute bell rang, so we quickly went our separate ways, for we were in different groups, and sat down. I had to calm myself down because I was laughing so much. Then, suddenly the clouds grew grey and the day came to an end. I looked down to see what dreadfully laid, and there it was. Something that held all my nightmares and miseries. Something that I knew, just knew that it will torment me and put me in agony. Sudden anxiety came over me as I hesitate to flip this simple piece of paper over. I look up, my whole group distraught and then I turned to face the class, everyone in tears. I looked at my friend and she was the opposite of happy, she was out of sorts and broken-hearted. I turned back and thought, did I really have to flip this over, well maybe, maybe not. Yet, did I flip it over? The one thing in my life I regret.

I had failed my first test in my entire life. I am in 11th grade and have broken my self goals. Was it because I didn’t work hard enough? No, not at all, because for the whole week prior to the test I spent at least one hour among my peers and math teacher trying to understand the material. So what happened? The world may never know, but the importance of this is what steps did I take to resolve this that will forever haunt me.

For the next five days I received help from my teacher and peers. I went in again and again until I understood the material and had fully prepared for the retake. I kept in mind my mother’s motto, “If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right.” If I am going to do this retake I need to do it right. From then on I was determined to succeed from this horrible unit, for it was my destiny. I worked hard, day and night, until I was satisfied. At that moment, I knew I was ready. So I took the retake, and was satisfied with the final grade I received. The lesson I learned you might ask? That my mother is right because what carried me through my goals was hard work and without it I would not have succeeded and done my best.

Hard work is something everyone should strive for when doing anything. Everyone should work hard at succeeding their goals and strive for their best. I have many moments in my life where it resembles hard work, but my point is, you can work hard and not receive your results right away. It’s what you do after a setback and how you work to move forward. This then determines and proves your hard work. Do keep in mind, “If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right.”

Biography:

Hanan Hamed is a Junior at Good Hope Country Day School. She is an excellent hard worker and thrives towards personal and academic goals.