I was a person who was very vulnerable. The pressure started to manifest as I entered my secondary school as a newbie. The teacher asked, ‘Anyone who wants to be the monitress?’ While the inner voice of my heart kept shouting, ‘ME! ME! ME!’, the outer me pretended as if nothing was happening, sitting calmly and observing around with my eyes wide open. ‘Will I be considered an overly confident weirdo if I raise my hand? Will I become a joke if I don’t get enough votes to become a monitress? ’ The thoughts and worries have conquered the young and valorous heart filled with passion. The older I was, the more I realized I had never been true to myself, and I had drifted apart from the person I wanted to become gradually. To avoid the risk of failure, I tended to focus only on the things that I was good at—academics, ignoring many opportunities to figure out my true self out.

The turning point was when my best friend, Janice, invited me to go busking with her. When she asked, my first reaction was to shake my head and laugh it off. “Me? You must be joking!” I said, trying to hide how nervous the idea made me feel. But, Janice was serious. “Why not? You don’t have to be the best singer. It’s just for fun!” Yes, I love music, and singing always makes me happy. Whatever the result turns out to be, it can’t be worse than not giving it a try. On the busking day, my heart was pounding, and I sang with my whole heart, though my voice wasn’t perfect. I was so alive!

So, my dear friends, be fearless and be true to yourselves. Sometimes, when you are self-doubting or feeling lost, your heart has indeed made the most honest response. Life is full of unexpected opportunities to try, fail, laugh, and grow. Sometimes, the ‘wrong’ train might bring you to the ‘right’ destination. Thus, don’t let fear or worry stop you. Whether it’s joining a contest, speaking up in class, or exploring a new hobby, these are the moments that help you create your own unique story and meaning in life.

You are the author of your life—make it a story you’ll be proud to tell.