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GROUP 6
– SENIOR MIDDLE 3

Champion:
WONG SHENG YAO

Class: 6S Zhong

and failing to get up again. If life never pushed you down, you would not learn to get back
up. For me, “falling down” occurs every time report card collection day rolled around the
corner as I would get outrageously nervous, praying and hoping my parents don’t drag
me to hell and back after looking at my results. I felt like a wanted criminal on the run; I If you could time travel,
decided to change this as I realised I should not feel this way over my results. Although it
may seem like a mere bomb on the road, taking action to fix this problem has led to me would it be better to visit
being proactive in different aspects of life, changing me for the better.
the past or the future?

There was a time when I hit rock bottom mentally. I was overweight, my academic Why?
performance was below average, and I was constantly losing passion and joy for day-to-
day life—like a car with a leaking gas tank. I often looked at the people around me and
wondered how they managed to stay so positive. To escape the harsh reality, I would spend
hours gaming, avoiding the cold, hard truths of my situation. That was when I stumbled If I were somehow given the chance to time travel, be it from a mysterious potion
upon a meaningful message online that said: “Smile has 5 letters, so does frown. Joy has 3 sold by an omnipotent potion maker, a reward for defeating the deadliest of foes, or even
letters, so does sad. Gain has 4 letters, so does loss." These simple words yanked my eyes finding a time travel machine lying in a quiet alleyway, I would most definitely choose to visit
wide open. I realised I had been so focused on the negatives that I failed to see the blessings the past, and not the future, granted that it would only be a visit and I could return to my
I already had. That moment taught me to find the good in everything. It felt as though the current self on my own freewill. The reasons for that are simple.
dark clouds had parted in an instant, and warm rays of sunlight finally touched my skin.
First and foremost, the past is a period of time that I have already discovered, and
I am able to pinpoint where the ups and downs of my life lie in the time spectrum solely by
Today, I am a much more joyful and positive person, living each day to its fullest. I memory. On the other hand, the future is as unpredictable as it can be, and time travelling
am no longer the overweight, empty version of myself, hiding in my room 24/7. Instead, I into the future would be like skydiving without knowing if the backpack on your back was
have embraced growth and gratitude, and it has made all the difference. empty or equipped with a parachute, either a thrilling experience or a detrimental accident.
What if I time travel into a time when I get into a car accident? What if my company fails
miserably and I become homeless in the foreseeable future? What if my life ends earlier
Looking back, it baffles me how a seemingly than I would like? As the maxim runs, "Ignorance is bliss", I think it would be better for my
microscopic change I made in the past has future to be left untouched and unknown, for the sake of my heart and my mental health.
transformed my life for the better years later. Whether
it is a simple choice or a daunting, intimidating Furthermore, I would want to time travel into the past to have an opportunity to relive
obstacle, challenges help us grow; they are crucial some of my fondest and most profound memories, something I would not be able to do if
stepping stones, shaping us into the people we are I had visited the future. A great example would be the time I stayed at my grandmother's
meant to become. Those courageous enough to house for the entire month of the school holiday. Without the interference of electronic
face their challenges head-on will reap the rewards devices, the atmosphere of the rural area had remarkably stark differences from the one we
of overcoming them. On the other hand, those who are accustomed to in the city. The chirping of birds, fresh air, and the joyous, playful dogs,
refuse to confront their struggles will find themselves all contributing to the tranquil atmosphere. Being able to ride my bicycle together with my
endlessly running away, unable to live up to their cousins to any destination we wanted, and enjoying a hearty meal prepared by grandmother
potential and remaining stagnant as the world moves right after, was unquestionably one of the experiences that I missed the most, especially due
on. If you find yourself in this position, remember to the fact that my grandmother had passed away not long ago. A chance to return to the
that time waits for no one. There will never be a good old times, even for a few days would truly mean the world to me.
"perfect" time or opportunity to take action—only the
moment you decide to take that first step towards
greatness.

42 ......... English Essay Writing Competition English Essay Writing Competition ......... 43