I would like to share a rhyme my mother taught me once. "Good, better, best, never let them rest”.  This means that, make your good better, till it becomes best.

There is no other point in time when this seems more relevant than when writing a high school examination. This year is very crucial for student finalists since they have to find a good university that offers the study courses of their choice. Good performance while at the university is equally important in order to have a good job and career in the future. Unfortunately, this realization comes late for several teenagers.

The dictionary meaning of the word good is, ‘to have appropriate quality for something, whether behavior, work or skills.’ Better is superior to good and best is the superlative.

This is applicable to all people in all fields. However, I feel it is most appropriate for those high school students who would soon be graduating from their respective schools. By the time one reaches high school, they are aware that good scores are important to attain a place in any university.

Some teenagers understand this very well and by the time they approach higher classes say grade 9 or 10, they become very serious in their studies. Unfortunately some continue to waste away their time in frivolous activities and realize too late that their good performance has worsened.

Sometimes brilliant students assume that their great grades in lower classes will add up for their national examination excellence. This is a misconception that needs to be abandoned. As students move to higher classes, the curriculum becomes wide and subjects are taught in greater detail. This means that more studying hours are needed. Unfortunately, this is also the age when adolescent minds get distracted and succumb to temptation. The time, energy and concentration needed in academics or skills improvement is spent on movies, Facebook and dating.

When a student has a clear concept and determination of improving their grades in school, they automatically put in the necessary effort to excel. They may not be at the top but are still ahead of lazy colleagues.

Therefore, every student aspiring to become something worthwhile in life should try to better their good till it becomes best.

The writer is a Senior 6 student at Green Hills Academy.
arundhati94@yahoo.co.uk