Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

Mom, Could You Give Me a Second Chance?

My mom pointed out that the reason she was mad not because of my poor grade but my “attitude.” I was not motivated enough; often I was lazy and barely made through the exams. I would often give the excuse that the teacher did not demonstrate well in the class. Although my mother didn’t say much more after reading my test result, I lowered my head as I went back to my room and started to cry. I sat down on my bed and asked myself the true reason for my failure. I always thought that if I didn't like or didn’t want to do something, then there was nothing wrong about not doing it. I didn't think that this was inappropriate at all. Because my parents would say similar things every time I did something wrong, I tended to forget what they had said right away. Every time I threw a temper tantrum at home, my parents eventually would forgive me. What was wrong with that?

Shifu has said that even children like us have to practice qigong and meditate every day to help us calm down. Though I totally understand the concept, sometimes I am just being lazy. And that is why I didn’t do well on my exam. While I was thinking, Shifu’s words appeared in my head, “The most important thing in our study is to learn to be responsible for our lives, to fulfill our duty in every aspect of our lives.” Suddenly I realized that I was wrong. I should work hard and be responsible for my own sake, not for avoiding making my mother mad.

After realizing the meaning of Shifu’s words, I started to organize my time in a more responsible way. When it is time to study, I study hard, and when it is time to play, I play cheerfully. Recently I have improved in my school as well as in my after school program. If I keep my study pattern like this, I am sure I will improve a lot on my next exam.

Shifu often tells us to be true to ourselves and to be courageous to correct our mistakes. I have decided to face my mistakes and my lack of enthusiasm in study. When I asked my mother, “Mom, could you give me a second chance?” My mother responded, “It's not whether I will give you a second chance, it is whether you will give yourself a second chance!” In order to be bravely responsible, I have declared to my mother that I will give myself a second chance.