Read the responses to this week’s Write to Win prompt and choose the answer you like most using this form.
Pizza: Standing in front of a huge audience for a show? I could never do that. People would judge me, and I’d probably get stage fright. What if I tripped? When I was younger, I believed that confidence was something only celebrities on television possessed. My younger self would be amazed at how far I’ve come in public speaking, representing my school in various competitions and winning multiple contests.
Hot dog: As a defender on my school football team, I never thought I would score a stunning goal in my Saturday league match. My younger self, who cried when I missed a penalty at the age of 10, would never have believed it. I dribbled past several opponents and placed the ball perfectly past the goalkeeper. The younger me would never have imagined having such an experience.
Taco: As a kid, I was always scared of the nerve-racking rides at amusement parks. Recently, I decided to conquer that fear by riding “Wild Twister” at Ocean Park. The first drop delivered such intense airtime that I felt like I was being thrown out of a moving plane. Even though my head was spinning, I was unbelievably proud of myself.
Burger: This may sound strange, but I found myself feeling happy with a mediocre grade. When I was younger, my parents insisted that I study day and night whenever tests were approaching, which helped me achieve satisfactory results, and I took that for granted. However, things changed in secondary school. My parents started allowing me to study at my own pace, and as a result, I began to slack off, causing my grades to drop. Recently, I decided to get back on track and take my studies seriously. Ultimately, there wasn’t much improvement, but I felt genuinely happy. After all my hard work, I had no regrets and didn’t feel as disappointed by a mediocre grade as I had in the past.
Fries: One thing my younger self would never believe is that I’ve attended a K-pop concert twice within six months. This is especially true because I’ve been a fan of one particular idol for several years, and often, we can’t believe our dreams will come true – especially when our idol doesn’t come to Hong Kong very often.
Siu mai: My younger self would be so confused and shocked by my recent decision to save most of my birthday money instead of spending it all on clothes and accessories. As I watched my savings account grow on my banking app, I felt proud of myself. Ten-year-old me, who once cried for 30 minutes over a HK$7 toy, would think I’ve been possessed by an alien or something like that.
Chicken wing: When I was young, I always thought I could never play Chopin’s piano pieces because they seemed too fast and complicated. However, as I grew older, I realised I could actually play them all because I put in a lot of effort practising. Sometimes, success doesn’t depend on whether you are gifted or not. Even if you have talent, you still have to use it rather than letting it go to waste.
Sandwich: Recently, I confidently spoke in front of a large audience. My younger self would never have believed I could stand on stage without shaking or hiding. I shared my ideas clearly, and the audience listened attentively. This experience demonstrated to me that courage grows with practice, and even the shyest person can shine when they make an effort.
Sushi: Drawing has been my favourite hobby since primary school. Unlike some talented artists, I tend to follow trends. I began with traditional drawings, like my family on A4 paper. By Primary Two, I was drawing cartoon characters. I’ve always known I wasn’t particularly skilled at drawing, although my parents encouraged me. I never thought I could improve to the level I am at now. My younger self would never have believed I could achieve this.
