Good afternoon. Let me start my speech with a quotation from John C.

Maxwell
once said:

“Dreams don’t work unless you DO.”

These 5 words have been inspiring me for more than a few years now. It means
that if you keep motivated in your dreams and keep on doing it with dedication and
hard work you can achieve it.

Way back when I was in my elementary stage of my school life, my goal was to be
included in every honor roll, not just included but to be on the top one to three. And
when I reached the high school part, I am still an honor student and still dedicated with
my dreams. In my 3rd year of my high school life our grading system was changed. It
made me nervous because I knew that I am not that smart and I might get left behind.
The last grading came and the list of those who are on top has already been posted.

When I saw the list, there were only 4 in our section who got top. I was very
disappointed that my name wasn’t on the list. I was very disappointed of myself because I
used to be a consistent top student before.

But it didn’t became a hindrance, it became my motivation. I studied every

day, get a perfect score whenever I can, review every day and stuff like that. My last year
in high school came, so I doubled, even tripled my effort. I become active and awarded as
the best in Math in our class. And by that I became the top 2 in the class until the
graduation.

But when I step up in the Senior Level, this was the time when I get tired and
doesn’t care about my studies. Maybe because of the peer pressure and a lot of
breakdowns and also the thinking of negative thoughts like I can’t do this next phase
of my journey.

Semestral Reading of Honors came, I am still included on the top list. It made
me both happy and sad because I know that I don’t deserved that grade. And there was
also this time when I start doing cutting classes because of the tiredness.

College life came, I was very nervous. I always thought myself that this was the last
stage so I must be more hardworking because I really wanted to be included on the honor
roll, I maximized my effort, do all the requirements before the due deadline as much as
possible. And now I am satisfied with some of my grades and still looking forward to my
future grades. Still fighting with life and dreams.

This is the bitter reality of life, sometimes giving your best wouldn’t be enough
to succeed, it requires more than just that. You have got to give it your all. Understand
that to achieve anything, faith and believing in your self is a requirement Matthew 19:26
(W.G.A.T.A.P), and also vision, hard work, determination, and most important is prayer.
Remember the Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things…) and I end my speech. Thank you.