2nd PE assignment Robin Bhoo

“No one is ever satisfied where he is.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince


“Am I satisfied where I am?” I asked myself.

“Well, let’s see.. I’m 16, and a perfect student. I’m tall, smart, handsome, sociable, athletic, humorous, and by all means, charming. I’m the best at sports in my school, I’ve never missed a single 1st place in English exams, and I’ve even been accepted to HAFS- the most prestigious high school in Korea: All my life has been full of success, and its just too obvious that I’m good. Really, can anybody be better than me?’’

 I lived in a world where I was a king,  where I knew everything and had everything. I lived a life full of ”bests”: Best backgrounds, best parents, best education... I was satisfied with where I was. I was at the highest, at the best...When I was 16.

 High school- a new world- came after a while, and there I was, lost in the deep sea of uncertainty. I could not see, for the darkness of the abyss obscured my vision. I could not reach, for the ocean’s pressure was something unprecedented from the past years of aquarium life. Lectures were beyond comprehension, and fellow students were beyond experience: Life was beyond my certainty. Was I still the best? Could I still succeed? Questions raveled up my mind. Confidence and self-esteem was gone. Doubt and cowardice reigned. If there was anything certain in this world, it was me sinking.

“Am i satisfied where I am?” I asked myself.

“I wish I were back in middle school. I used to be the best student, best athlete, and the best person. Life was easy and satisfying until I came here. Seriously, I suck right now. I want to escape from the darkness drawn upon. I need the glory of the past. I just can’t accept the fact that failure exists.”

But then, another thought struck my mind: Would I still be satisfied if I go back? Am I to be content with such vainglory, of being the best in a mere aquarium? The world I live as an adult is definitely going to be bigger than the ocean I’m in now. Am I to imprison myself in history and pretend like I’m still okay? I was undoubtedly sinking down. Now, the only thing left for me was to swim up again.

Years passed since I started searching for the sunlight above. I became the captain of our school’s basketball team. I participated as a member of the Korean national flag football team. I received straight A’s throughout my high school life. And now, I’m writing an application for the renowned Princeton University.

“Am I satisfied where I am?”

I know where I am, and if I was 16, I would probably have said that I’m the best and be satisfied with it- Just look at what I achieved! Team captain, national representative, straight A’s- but looking back at the past, I realized that something crucial was missing in my evaluations as a 16 year old: I was ignorant of my failures. Of course, admitting failures isn’t something fun. But the satisfaction isn’t worth it when failures I made are ignored.  I am not satisfied where I am, for I recognize myself. I’m not the “best” I thought I used to be. I make mistakes, and I makes failures. And I also know that these mistakes and failures will take me higher, make me better,  away from satisfaction.