Reflection

 

LESSONS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

The first quarter of Grade 10 has honestly been one of the most eye-opening times for me. Looking back, I can say it wasn’t just about lessons in school, but also about myself. There were ups and downs, struggles and little wins, and moments where I felt like giving up but also times where I realized how much I’ve grown. When the school year started, I was both excited and nervous. Excited for new things, but nervous because it’s Grade 10. the last year in junior high, and of course people expect more from us.

At first, I thought it would just be the same as before, just lessons, activities, exams, and moving on. But I was wrong. As the weeks went by, I realized it’s more than that. It’s also about how I handle stress, how I manage my time, and how I balance my studies with rest and personal life. In short, this quarter tested not just my academics but also my patience and mental strength.

One of the lessons that really stuck with me was about the timeline of the internet. Before, I didn’t even care about how it started, I just thought the internet was always there for us to use. But learning how it began from ARPANET and how it grew into what it is today made me realize how far technology has gone. Without it, life would be very different. No instant communication, no quick research, no online classes. We really take it for granted sometimes. Now I appreciate it more, because behind every innovation are people who worked hard, failed, tried again, and succeeded.

Aside from that, I also learned a lot about myself. Honestly, procrastination really hit me this quarter. I kept delaying tasks, thinking I could do them later, but then later became too late. That made me stressed and rushing. I also wasted time on distractions, like scrolling on my phone instead of starting my requirements. Those habits taught me that self-discipline is very important. It’s not just about schoolwork, it’s about respecting my time and responsibilities. I also realized the importance of balance. Sometimes I worked too much, and I ended up drained. Other times, I rested too much, and I got behind. I learned the hard way that balance is the key. School is important, yes, but rest is also important. And honestly, I also saw that being a student is not just about passing requirements. It’s about building character—discipline, responsibility, and being more thoughtful in how I live day by day.

But of course, it wasn’t easy. The first quarter gave me a lot of challenges. There were so many times I felt tired and wanted to give up. Requirements kept piling up. The moment I finished one, another came. Sometimes I just sat in front of my notes or my laptop not knowing what to do anymore. I even thought, “What’s the point? I’ll fail anyway.” Those negative thoughts made it harder.

The pressure was also heavy. Teachers expected more since we’re in Grade 10, classmates expected us to do our part in group works, and my family also had their expectations. It felt like carrying so much on my shoulders. And even when I tried my best, it sometimes felt like it wasn’t enough. Time management was another problem. No matter how much I tried to plan, it was never enough. Because of procrastination, I panicked when deadlines came. And even when I started early, new tasks still appeared. I ended up busy but not really productive. Another struggle was the fear of failure. Every exam or project gave me anxiety. Even when I studied, I still doubted myself and wasted time overthinking instead of focusing. This fear paralyzed me sometimes and made me less confident.

But even with all of these problems, I still found ways to cope. One of the biggest reasons I survived this quarter was because of my friends. They really reminded me I wasn’t alone. Whenever I felt like giving up, just talking to them helped. Sometimes they shared their own struggles, which made me realize I wasn’t the only one going through these things. Simple encouragements like “Kaya mo ‘yan” or helping me understand lessons already meant so much.

Another thing that helped me was prayer. During nights when I felt like I couldn’t handle it anymore, I prayed. It gave me peace and strength, reminding me that I wasn’t alone in this fight. It wasn’t a magic solution, but it calmed me down and gave me courage to keep going.

I also learned to take things step by step. Instead of looking at a huge project and feeling overwhelmed, I broke it down into smaller tasks. Like doing research first, then the draft, then the revision. That made things less heavy. I tried to manage my time better too, setting mini deadlines for myself, making to-do lists, and avoiding too many distractions.

And of course, I reminded myself to rest. I used to think resting was a waste of time, but I realized it’s part of being productive. Taking a short nap, listening to music, or just breathing for a while helped me recharge and continue working with more focus.

Most importantly, I worked on my mindset. Instead of thinking about failure, I reminded myself why I was doing all of this. Every challenge is just preparing me for the future. Comparing myself to others only made me feel worse, so I started focusing on my own progress, even if it was just small improvements. And I also learned that it’s okay to ask for help. Admitting I don’t know something doesn’t mean I’m weak, it means I’m willing to learn.

even though the first quarter gave me so many problems, it also taught me how to overcome them. With the support of friends, prayer, better time management, small steps, and a change in mindset, I was able to survive. It wasn’t perfect, but I learned and grew from it.

Moving forward, I want to do better in the next quarters. I know I made mistakes like procrastinating, letting distractions take over, and doubting myself too much. So, moving on, I will try to manage my time wisely and avoid waiting until the last minute. I will remind myself to focus on what’s really important instead of wasting hours on things that don’t help me grow.