It was the day I had been dreading for weeks. The results of the mid-semester exams were finally being posted, and my stomach felt like it was in knots. Gabriel and Andrew had been so supportive, reminding me that no matter what happened, we would get through it together. But deep down, I knew I had one big hurdle to cross: maths.
I had studied for hours, even sacrificed time with friends, in hopes of passing that subject. Maths had never been my strong suit, but I had pushed myself harder this time. I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle it. But there was always that nagging fear in the back of my mind, whispering that it wouldn’t be enough.
As I walked through the hallway toward the bulletin board, my hands were cold and clammy. I felt the weight of the uncertainty pressing on my chest. Gabriel and Andrew walked beside me, their footsteps light and casual, as if they weren’t even nervous. But I could feel their eyes on me, their concern not hidden at all. They probably knew how much this meant to me.
When we finally reached the bulletin board, I could barely breathe. My heart was racing, my palms sweaty. The results were already posted, and the crowd of students around the board was thick. They were laughing and talking, some congratulating others, while others were groaning about their scores. But I couldn’t focus on any of that. My eyes immediately sought out my name on the list.
And there it was.
“Elena Harper: Maths 45%.”
I froze. The numbers blurred for a second, and I had to blink to clear my vision. My heart sank, and I felt a cold wave of panic wash over me. The passing grade for maths was 50%, and I had barely scraped by. It wasn’t even close to what I had hoped for.
“Elena,” Andrew’s voice broke through my thoughts, his hand gently touching my shoulder. “It’s not that bad. You can make it up.”
I shook my head, trying to control the surge of emotions inside me. “I should’ve done better,” I whispered. “I thought I could pass… but this isn’t enough.”
Gabriel’s gaze softened, and he stood close to me. “We’ll figure this out. You still have the rest of the semester.”
But I couldn’t focus on their reassuring words. All I could think about was the way my failure in maths was going to affect everything. My scholarship, my final exams-everything was at risk now.
I took a deep breath and walked away from the crowd, needing to process the disappointment in private. Gabriel and Andrew followed me, not saying a word, just giving me the space I needed.
The next day, I was called to the professor’s office. It was Marcus, the head teacher of the maths department. I had been dreading this moment since the results had been posted. His office was cold, formal, with papers and textbooks scattered around the desk. He looked at me with a stern face as I sat down.
“Elena,” Professor Marcus began, his voice low. “You failed the mid-semester exam. How did this happen? You were doing well in class. I thought you would manage better than this.”
I felt my throat tighten. “I studied hard, Professor,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “But I just couldn’t grasp everything. I’ll work harder for the final exam.”
He shook his head, his disappointment clear. “Hard work doesn’t always make up for lack of understanding, Elena. You’re falling behind. If you don’t improve in maths, it could affect your scholarship. You need to get your act together, or you might not make it to the final exams.”
I nodded, feeling a knot of guilt settle in my stomach. I knew this was serious. A poor grade in maths would cost me everything I had worked for. My scholarship was my lifeline it was the reason I could afford to be here at Kingston University in the first place.
Professor Marcus sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this, Elena. You need to prioritize your studies. If you want to pass, you must dedicate more time to this subject. Focus. This can’t continue.”
I looked down at my hands, the guilt weighing me down. “I understand, Professor. I won’t let it happen again.”
He didn’t seem satisfied, but he nodded slowly. “I hope you mean that. You have one more chance. Don’t waste it.”
After leaving his office, I felt numb. The world around me seemed to blur. How could I have let this happen? I had tried so hard, but I hadn’t been able to do enough. I knew I had to work even harder to pass, but the thought of spending every waking moment on maths made my stomach churn.
That afternoon, I had to meet with the director. I was already feeling the weight of my failure pressing down on me, but I knew it was going to get worse.
The director, Mr. Green, was as stern as they came. He was always polite but never shy about pointing out flaws. As I walked into his office, I could see his frown as soon as he looked at my results.
“Elena, I’m very disappointed. You’ve failed maths. That’s one of your core subjects. This is unacceptable.” His voice was calm but there was an undeniable anger underneath it. “You’re on a scholarship, Elena. If you can’t manage your grades, you might lose it. That’s a serious consequence.”
I felt my heart race again. “I know, Mr. Green. I’m really sorry. I’ll do whatever it takes to improve.”
He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. “You better. This isn’t just about passing the class. It’s about proving that you deserve your place here. Do you understand?”
I nodded, but inside, I was crumbling. I felt small, insignificant in the face of his words. I had worked so hard, and yet it wasn’t enough.
“You’ll need to meet with your maths tutor regularly. You’ll also have to put in extra hours studying,” he continued, his tone still firm. “I want to see results. No excuses.”
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill. “I will. I promise.”
When I left the director’s office, I felt like I was walking in a daze. My mind kept replaying his words over and over. “Prove that you deserve your place here.”
I couldn’t let this failure define me. I had to work harder. But the thought of all the hours I would have to spend with numbers and equations made my head spin.
As I walked through the campus, I could feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. I had failed in the one subject that had the most impact on my future. And now, I had to make things right. There was no room for failure.
Later that night, I sat alone in my room, staring at the pile of textbooks on my desk. I was exhausted-physically and mentally but I knew I couldn’t stop. I had to keep going. The pressure was overwhelming, but I couldn’t give up. Not now.
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the silence settle over me. I could hear my father’s voice in my head, reminding me that this was my chance. It was my future at stake, and I couldn’t let anything ruin it.
I would face this challenge head-on. I would prove to everyone that I could do this. And more importantly, I would prove it to myself.