Justine Mirabelle Mayor

Ateneo de Iloilo
I swear I could hear them laughing. They were looking at me, clad in posh sweaters
and cardigans, delighting in the fact that I was nearly pulling my hair out because, to put it
simply, I was stumped. I couldnt think of anything to write about and the essay writing
contest that I was currently joining was coming to a prompt close. I was running back and
forth frantically to the desk of the lady who supplied the scratch papers for our supposed
drafts, but all the papers I asked for seemed to be crumpled into balls almost as soon as
they were written on. The gears in my head just werent turning like they usually did. As I
scratched out in vain yet another title for a potential write-up, I heard the faintest whisper
from beside me, Just stop trying, youre embarrassing yourself. I looked up to
see a cocky-looking boy scoffing at me and looking me from head to toe in obvious disgust,
then out of shame, quickly looked down again.
I thought hard, pulling on the ends of my ratty, old, hand-me-down jacket that wasnt
doing a very good job of keeping me warm. Tapping my Mongol 2 pencil against the wooden
desk, I glanced around to see my opponents feverishly scribbling down on their papers,
probably already making finishing touches to their essays while I havent even started on
mine. With 30 minutes left, I gave up all hopes of winning the stupid contest and just stared
out into space. The whole situation was so sad it was kind of comical, and I wasnt sure
whether I wanted to burst out into hysterics or into tears. But then, my eyes happened to
land on the glass doors which served as the entrance and exit of the room that we were in.
Through the glass, I saw my mother, who was looking at me with a gleam in her eyes that
seemed to be urging me to go on. I smiled at her then, and she put both of her thumbs up in
the air to show me that she was with me, every step of the way. A simple gesture, but I
appreciated it all the same.
Finally, in that moment, I remembered my purpose. It wasnt to show off, or to laze
around, or even to win first prize. It was, sappy as this may sound, to make my parents
proud and put my whole heart into what I was doing. To not give up even when I was just
dying to to be able to face my fears without surrendering. Courage, after all, isnt the lack

courage is being afraid, but going out and looking your fears in the
eye anyway, and refusing to back down.
of fear;

And thats exactly what I did. With my mother, the rock that keeps me grounded, and
my inspiration in life, as the main topic for my essay, I actually managed to finish in less than
25 minutes, and wait for it it won first place in that very contest. (I know I said that
winning first prize wasnt in my plans, but hey, Im not complaining) I did it even when they
told me I couldnt, even when I almost lost faith in myself and my capabilities, I did. And it
was the best feeling in the entire world, because

sweeter when youre the underdog.

victory is a thousand times