Yunshan Li [Week 13]: Looking Back
Week 13: Looking Back – 3/23 - [5:06PM].
My grandma once told me that when we look back on things that we worked hard to accomplish, we will remember the glorious moments of success over the pain we went through. What she said as we struggled up a challenging hike in Yosemite National Park really stuck with me and I realized this wisdom applies to so many experiences in my life. This moment became an important memory to me.
I was somebody who never studied for a test until the second year of junior high in 8th grade. For me, middle school was a big jump from elementary school and my low grades from 7th grade revealed to me that my old method of learning and test preparations (which was none at all) was not working. I was determined to do better in my second year. During the summer before 8th grade, I completed endless review books and even self-studied some 8th-grade material to be extra prepared. All my efforts made 8th grade turn into a breeze and I achieved my desired grades. Nevertheless, the process was not easy and I still remember the countless days when I had to stay home and study while my sisters went out to play. However, as my grandmother said, when I look back on this chapter of my life, I remember how proud and happy I was about achieving my goal over the hard work I put into it.
This lesson that my grandmother taught me allowed me to see things in the past tense. It made me realize that the hard work I put in now will blossom into memories of success and joy to look back upon. It also showed me that my struggles are temporary as I probably will not remember them when I view back on my life in a border sense.
I felt grateful that my grandmother chose to share this life-changing piece of life wisdom with me. This one line encouraged me to do so much more in life.
Image: https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/portfolio_page/dont-look-back/
Hey Yunshan, applying this concept to my past really made me realize how true it is. When thinking of piano, the first memories I remember are not the tedious hourly practice sessions my parents forced me through, but instead the happiness of finally being able to master a piano piece. When I think about programming, I do not think about the multitudes of endless errors I came across nor the numerous encounters I made on StackOverflow, but instead the joy of finally creating working and functioning programs. This idea really also serves as great motivation, showing me that current struggles are mere encounters that I will soon view as irrelevant compared to the great success that awaits.
ReplyDeleteHey Yunshan! Learning curve is certainly a real thing and I can relate to having to do it. Working hard is also a good thing for your grandmother to teach and it's good that she instilled a good work ethic in you from a young age. The feeling of being proud of your achievements is certainly worth it, as you feel good about yourself, leading to a virtuous cycle of working harder.
ReplyDeleteHi Sophia, this concept is actually very relatable. I find that often as I am remembering something, my brain will only associate the positives with it. This isn't a bad thing, but it really is interesting how our brains over time will fade out the negative parts of a positive memory and focus on the good. Whenever I think of going to the beach, my brain associates it with feelings of joy and relaxation. It never remembers the wet sand sticking to my feet or the scorching sun on my skin sticky with sunscreen. However, I also keep many negative memories in my head, most of which the positive aspects have faded over time. I believe that as a memory slowly fades, our brain will associate the strongest feeling that comes with it, cutting out all the less important details.
ReplyDeleteHey Sofia, this is a good mentality to have because it assures people that what awaits them at the end of all their hard work and struggles is something worth working for and can turn into something they can look back on and be proud of. I can also relate to how when you look back on the past, you focus more on the positives. A possible reason could be that since we have already experienced the hardships and those unpleasant emotions associated with the past events, we focus on the better aspects when those memories do resurface, not wanting to relive the negative parts again. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYunshan, what a nice blog post. This post definitely allowed me to self-reflect on pivotal moments in my life and I can think of one similar to yours. For my whole life, until 8th grade, I would always strive to do good in my classes not for myself but for my parents; so that I could avoid a fight with them or a “punishment” from them. However, entering high school changed the way I viewed my grades. I wanted to do good in my classes, for myself. When I got a bad grade, the first thought that came into my head was not what will my mom do but disappointment in myself which motivated me to work harder to get a better grade. This change in mindset really helped me excel in my classes and understand the value of education. Thank you for allowing me to self- reflect.
ReplyDeleteHey Yunshan! My dad always tells me something quite similar; he says, “Work your hardest now so you can enjoy later.” I must say his words have definitely stuck with me and even helped me become a better student. While I must say it's been pretty hard managing multiple extracurriculars and school, I know he’s right and that the struggles now will definitely become fond memories of all the hard work high school paid off for later. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Sophia, I agree that it’s always good to reminisce on our accomplishments in life. Often, doing so helps me to keep a positive attitude and gives me hope so that I am able to achieve the tasks at hand. I hope that in the future, you will do as your grandma did and pass this piece of wisdom to your children or grandchildren. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Yunshan! This is definitely very true for so many people, and I can definitely relate to this. The feelings of triumph and happiness we get from achieving results and success from struggle definitely tend to stand out more to us than the difficulties it took to get there. My mom has always told me that if you miss an opportunity, there will be a better one waiting for you. That saying has definitely changed my perspective on life, as it has allowed me to look outward to the future much more. With this mindset, I don't feel as disappointed or dwell on my struggles or failures, as those losses and hardships would be worth it when I eventually obtained something better. Thinking of the happiness of success and joy early on surely help in creating more self-confidence and striving to do better.
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