From: Wen-min, Pri 6, Methodist Girls’ School
Dear Jillian,
Don’t be discouraged. The fact that you have joined the Mind Benders quiz competition is already very courageous of you. Even if you do get many questions wrong, there is nothing to be ashamed of because, in the end, you tried your best anyway. It is normal to get nervous and mess up during such a big competition, and no one is perfect. Perhaps some people will think you are not smart, yes, but the truth is that you have tried and practiced.
Whether you win or lose does not matter; what does matter is that you plucked up the courage to join the competition, which is a step in growing more confident. You should be proud of yourself. In the end, the competition is only a small event in your life. You are already on the path to becoming someone with more confidence, so look forward to what is to come.
What you can do is to set realistic goals for yourself and focus on achieving them instead of focusing on the outcome of the competition. Before the competition, try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or light exercise. Finally, be kind to yourself and remember it’s okay to make mistakes. Recognise your negative thoughts and confront them.
I hope you will find more courage in yourself and learn to be more confident in the long run.