One of the most important lessons I’ve learned so far, especially over the past few years, is that you can’t always do everything on your own. As much as you might want to, there are times you just need the help of others to succeed.
I have always considered myself a pretty brilliant student. I’m not trying to blow my own trumpet, but I’ve always been able to read, cram, and still do well in exams. Cramming has always been my go-to method — it’s not the best, I know, but it worked for me for a long time. At the same time, I also enjoy studying alone. I have never really been a fan of group reading or group discussions, especially during exams. I always felt I could handle things better when I was in my own space, at my own pace.
But there was one particular experience that really changed my perspective on that. It happened in my third year at the university. That semester was tough — we had about 12 courses, and our exams were packed into just two weeks. It was back-to-back papers, with barely enough time to rest, let alone have enough to digest everything we had learned over the semester.
There was this one course — I can’t even forget it — it was notoriously difficult. Even from the beginning of the semester, I knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. But for some reason, I convinced myself that I would be fine if I just locked myself in my room and crammed my way through, like I always did.
A few days to the exam, I noticed a lot of my coursemates forming study groups, discussing past questions, and even organizing tutorials amongst themselves. But I didn’t join them. I told myself I worked better alone, and that group discussions would only slow me down. What I didn’t realize was that they were filling in gaps for each other — explaining things that some people didn’t understand, sharing different perspectives, and even predicting possible exam questions.
When the day of the exam came, I walked into the hall feeling slightly anxious but still confident that I would manage. But the moment the question paper landed on my desk and I read through the questions, my heart sank. It wasn’t that I didn’t know anything — I did know some things — but it was nowhere near enough. It was like the paper was designed to expose every single area I had skipped or crammed wrongly.
I answered what I could, but deep down, I knew I was in trouble. When the results eventually came out, out of the 12 courses I wrote, that was the only one coourse where I got an E. I passed, but barely — and it hurt. It hurt not just because of the grade, but because I knew I could have done so much better if I had just humbled myself and studied with others. Moreover, getting an E wasn't something i would want for the kind of degree i want to graduate with.
That experience taught me a serious lesson. No matter how smart you think you are, there are times you need other people. Group discussions might not always be comfortable, but they expose you to different ideas, clearer explanations, and even important tips you might have missed. Since that day, anytime I come across a difficult course or even any other course at all, I make sure to link up with my coursemates and join in on their discussions. I’ve realized it’s not just about passing — it’s about understanding and growing together.
That one E was painful, but then the lesson it taught me was worth it.
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Thank you so much