Today, I want to discuss a common emotion that we all experience: frustration.

As September rolls around, it brings new beginnings and the outcomes of various endeavors. For students, this is the time when we receive our grades and overall evaluations from the previous academic year.

In my case, my GPA stands at an impressive 3.95 out of 4. I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in the progress I've made through hard work. However, there are inevitably moments of disappointment. When I looked at the class rankings, I realized that I didn't make it to the top performers. This realization left me feeling a bit down, especially when I saw that a classmate I've been in competition with for a long time had significantly higher scores, with a difference of 0.91. However, their higher ranking was primarily due to bonus points they had received.

In school, some people strive to participate in numerous academic activities and aspire to attend graduate school. However, I'm not that kind of person. For me, the most important thing is to enjoy learning in the classroom rather than overwhelming myself with extracurricular activities. Sometimes, taking on too much only adds to my stress. I often question whether I can truly juggle all these commitments. However, when I realize that the gap between me and others is merely a result of one day's extra credit, I feel a sense of frustration. As someone with a competitive spirit, I naturally want to progress and excel. Yet, even if I can't surpass others, I can still be proud of my efforts. It also highlights my areas for improvement—I may not be naturally gifted, but I'm willing to invest time and effort to reach the level of those who excel. Therefore, I sometimes feel anxious and unhappy.

Nevertheless, it's important to recognize that certain circumstances and fixed conditions are beyond our control. What I want to emphasize is the mindset of refusing to surrender to reality. Even though I may trail behind that classmate by 0.91 in the rankings, it doesn't diminish my worth. I've put in the effort and demonstrated my excellence. So, I will continue to do my best and refrain from comparing myself to others because it only exacerbates negative feelings.

In the journey of life, setbacks and disappointments are common, but we mustn't let them hinder our progress. Frustration is a part of our growth, and it can serve as motivation to strive even harder for our goals. Regardless of whether we achieve the desired results, what truly matters is being proud of our efforts and maintaining the determination to keep moving forward.