when I was in ninth grade, my story “The Making of A Bully” was going to be published in the book

Water’s Edge” along with those of a few other selected students of my school , and it was going to
be launched on the day of the Literary Fest. I was part of the Sketch Show event, where a short skit
based on my book would be enacted , which I would narrate too ,and then speak a bit at the end. I
was nervous because I was very self conscious whether my story would be well received or not, and
whether I would be able to properly represent the story in a short two minute skit or not.As a result
of trying to impress others, I chased perfectionism, and ended up messing up the speaking part
which I had at the end of the skit. I didn't even stand properly in the spotlight and my delivery was
slightly off too, as I was too nervous, standing there not only as a performer, but also as the writer.I
knew I didn’t do well, but no one told me properly. Later when I saw the recordings I realised I
ended up looking quite bad, and I felt like crying. But later, when I looked at it again after a few
months or so , I noticed my fussing was over almost nothing because my real work lied in the
content in that skit as well as the book. I learnt the lesson the bitter way- to only focus on my craft
and nothing else. From then I resolved I will strive to focus on my own best efforts, regardless of the
results. And I will try to control only my work , not how it is received , how I look etc.I try to be the
best at what I do, instead of trying to be the proverbial jack of all trades. This would be one of my
failures as well a great learning opportunity.