Competence Must Be Demanded, and Arrogance Must Be Rejected

Several acquaintances of mine are of the opinion that success is a pre-requisite for fulfilling their aspirations. However, I believe that some of the most successful individuals whom I have encountered are those who possess good self-promotion skills. Unfortunately, success in one arena does not necessarily guarantee success in another, despite it providing temporary reassurance.

As someone who has recently ventured into the education sector, I obtained priceless knowledge whilst serving as an assistant teacher at the high school from which I had just graduated. Initially, I was part of a summer program but continued working part-time there whilst completing my four-year undergraduate studies. Upon graduation, I was employed as a full-time educator at the school for another two years.

On careful reflection, I must concede that my teaching techniques during that period were not particularly effective. Although I believed that I was capable of teaching, I was only able to truly connect with a quarter of my class. I tended to focus on those students who I believed had the potential to understand my lectures. Additionally, there were some students who appreciated my combination of traditional wisdom and contemporary style, which helped me create a mesmerising atmosphere. This successful experience made me feel like I was on top of the world. However, regrettably, I failed to engage the remaining 75% of my class who seemed either confused, frustrated, or uninterested.

Due to my lack of self-awareness and humility, I found myself in a predicament where I relied on the opinions of a vocal minority to make decisions. I also became overconfident in my abilities in a particular field and failed to acknowledge my limitations. This led to a situation where my peers and teachers found me to be an irritating presence. My attitude of thinking that I was the best in the school and had mastered all the tricks was nothing but self-deception.

Despite devoting ten entire years of my life to the community of teachers and students, I continued to feel like an outsider. It was apparent that my arrogance and lack of talent had led people to distance themselves from me, and I was left feeling isolated. At times, I received letters of gratitude from a small number of my students, who appreciated and admired the knowledge they had acquired from me. I would take great pride in these letters and boast to myself that I was the best amongst my peers, saying “You were once my student, and now I will be yours.”

As a result of the insights I gained during my time in education, I gained a deeper understanding of certain matters. I spent the next decade reflecting on the knowledge I had gained while working at my first job and my former high school. Regrettably, my negative attitude and lack of confidence caused me to push away many of my friends and colleagues. However, this did not provide me with the fulfilment I was seeking. Being surrounded by a group of individuals with whom I had little in common made me feel like an outsider and a potential nuisance. In such instances, the only reasonable option was to move on.

After years of repeating the same patterns, I finally arrived at a point in my life where I am willing and able to converse with people from all walks of life. I am devoted to improving and expanding my skillset, and I am determined to maintain a humble attitude as I strive for mastery in my areas of study. I understand that the path of learning is never-ending, but I am confident that I now have the knowledge and tools to make progress.

Maintaining self-control and avoiding favouritism towards particular colleagues is crucial in establishing a productive and collaborative work environment. Such attitudes can hinder other ideas that may be potentially beneficial from being voiced. Furthermore, I refuse to settle for substandard work from myself or anyone else. Instead, I will make it a priority to achieve and surpass my team’s full potential.

I must be truthful and admit that I am not particularly intelligent or deserving of the successes that I have obtained in my life. Nor am I the individual who will bring about the end of the world, as I once envisioned as a child. Rather, I was fortunate to be born into a supportive family and community. I understand that the people and experiences that have shaped my actions and perspectives have contributed to the success I have achieved, and I cannot claim to have done so alone. Although I am disappointed that I will not be the chosen one who brings about the end of the world, I still have an opportunity to become someone who possesses the courage to speak truth to power while demonstrating compassion towards those with less authority. My proficiency in the English language is a tool that I can utilise to deliver a potent message to a broad audience, provided that I strive for excellence and resist the temptation of excessive pride.

It is vital that I take the proactive step of trying new and challenging opportunities; otherwise, I risk being left behind as the world continuously changes and evolves. My network of colleagues and peers with whom I can collaborate and cooperate on projects will gradually decrease until the day I leave. Thankfully, those who have been working with me on this project share my mindset, and together, we strive to grow and make progress. We encourage one another and work towards achieving a better world. Defying conceit and refusing to settle for mere adequacy, we seek to acquire the requisite knowledge and proficiency to have a positive and meaningful impact on society.

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