I have seen this quote repeatedly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a year as it hangs in my Maths classroom. However, I never fully acknowledged its presence, nor, more importantly, its significance.

I am now working on my Oxford Uni application. During this strenuous process I have been receiving some negative feedback regarding my decision, rather than the nature of my application such as “it’s a stretch” or “this feels forced”. For a while, I felt very discouraged and was considering giving up. Yet, when I walked into my Maths classroom on Wednesday, that quote, for the first time ever, spoke to me and my perspective shifted.

“What is stopping me from trying?” I thought to myself. I realised that I just wasn’t sure if I can do it, and, with that, came my eureka moment. I will never know if I can do it if I don’t try. I know that many of you have heard something along these lines before but, for me, this was the first time that I actually internalised this belief.

We are never 100% sure of the decision that we are about to make, and that’s precisely what makes it a decision and not an automated action, like breathing. We are very rarely met with straight-forward or objectively correct decisions. But it’s in these moments that we establish our priorities – and my priority, over the opinion of one teacher, is my personal development. If we were to never make uncomfortable decisions, we would stay in our comfort zone and, as a result, or development as an individual would be stagnated. The discomfort we feel is your primary reaction to the “you” that is developing.

So, give it a shot. Let yourself grow! 𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘