02/02/2025
I failed at getting into this school 🏫 …
… at my FIRST attempt.
Over 3000 students sat the selective entrance exam with about 1500 placing Melbourne High School as their first preference. With only about 300 spots, there was of course a high likelihood of not making the cut. 😬
I gave the 3-hour exam my all but still failed to get in. 😓
I had heard about Melbourne High School so many times whilst growing up. I remember staring at it in awe when we would drive past. 🚗👀
My father, as a taxi driver in his early days in Australia, had occasionally picked up students from the school and had thought to himself, “Will my kids ever go here?” 🥹
I had learned from a young age to not give up easily. Thus, I knew I needed to find another way in. 🚁
I learned that there was a year 10 intake for Melbourne High School. But for this intake, instead of 300 spots, there were only 30. 😮
This time, in addition to evaluating academic potential, they evaluated co-curricular potential and leadership abilities. It was a more gruelling process. 😅
Eventually, the day of the exam came. The selection committee was pleased with my written application in conjunction with my exam results, so I was invited to come for interviews. 🎉
As a kid, this was the first interview I’d ever had in my life. 😳 I remember taking a risk when they asked me, “Why do you want to go to this school?” 🤷♂️
I flipped the question and asked them, “Why should I go to this school?” 🤣🤣 The interviewers were surprised but liked my courage.
As you may have guessed, I made it. 🩶
In retrospect, I am actually glad that I failed my first attempt. The entire experience rewired my neural circuits. 🧠 It made me view setbacks differently. I began to hunt for difficult challenges. It gave me GRIT. 💪
So fam, let’s not get too occupied with the word “failure.” Let’s try to reframe setbacks as valuable signals that inform you about bottlenecks in your current skill set. 💎 That if you address these issues, you will be able to level up. 📈
Sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn. 💯