Hard work has its rewards

JOHN is a playful boy. Every day after school, John would spend the afternoon playing computer games.

He did not bother about homework or his studies.

“Why care? It’s just detention class,” he reasoned to himself.

John’s teachers advised him to complete his homework and focus on his studies, but John did not listen to them. He continued to neglect his homework and studies. All his teachers were fed up with his attitude, and they decided to complain to his mother.

One day Ms Martha, the principal, called John’s mum to inform her that John had been neglecting his assignments.

Mrs Lim was shocked to hear the news. She told the principal that she would speak to John about it.

When John got home from school that day, his mother called him into her room and asked angrily: “Why haven’t you been doing your homework?”

John was caught by surprise. He shuffled his feet and stammered, “Oh... umm... I forgot.”

“Don’t ever do that again. You should give top priority to your studies,” she told John.

From that day onwards, John diligently worked on his assignments after school. He did not waste the whole afternoon playing computer games. Instead, he used the computer for research purposes to assist him in his studies.

After completing his homework, he would spend one hour on revision. If he had any free time, he would read storybooks to improve his command of the English language.

John began to shine in his studies. His test marks improved by leaps and bounds.

At the end of the school year, John won the Best Student Award. He surprised many of his teachers with his win.

John realised the importance of studying hard. Hard work pays off.

11

– By Hazel Lim Zhan,

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