We often hear hard work is the key to success but I have learnt in life that perseverance is even more important. We do not live in a perfect world, thus, hard work doesn’t always lead to desirable outcome. But the key is not to be disappointed but to never stop trying because true failure is not falling short of expectations but to give up.
I have had a very comfortable and shielded upbringing, thus, took many things for granted in life. Over time, my worldview expanded and I realized we are part of the society and should develop ourselves in order to make positive difference in the society. This inspired me to target Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. I do play sports but I had never targeted extreme physical activity before. The thought that I had to complete a hike of 19km over the weekend including overnight camping and was responsible for fending for myself did overwhelm me at first. But when I put my mind onto something, I am willing to give it all to accomplish the task.
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My team included five people and like everyone, I was carrying a heavy backpack which included food, cooking utensils, clothes, emergency kits, and other supplies. The terrain was rough and hot temperatures during the day while colder temperatures at night didn’t help much. The weight of the supplies produced blisters on my shoulders and back and in addition to physical challenges, the arguments among team members also produced stress. I took on the team leader role and used my effective communication skills to keep everyone on the same page and work together. We successfully completed the challenge and I could not have been prouder of myself.
The challenge tested both my mental and physical strength and I had passed. It was the first time for me and I could have easily given up but my focus on the ultimate goal prevented me from giving up. This experience taught me that life is mostly a marathon with many different challenges along the way. The key to success is not merely working hard but not giving up even when the going gets tough.
