Tutoring has the potential to change lives. It can take students from a place of uncertainty and frustration to a place of success and accomplishment. My own experience is a testament to this truth.
Growing up, my twin brother, Ihsan Shah, and I were passionate about sports. We represented our state in bowling competitions and spent most of our time on the lanes. Unfortunately, our academic performance suffered as a result. We were always at the bottom of our class, and our grades were below average. We didn’t take our studies seriously until our Chemistry teacher, Mr Sebastian, made a comment that changed everything.
One day, while in class, Mr Sebastian said, “The twins are hopeless.” Hearing this was a wake-up call. It made me realize that I needed to take my studies seriously if I wanted to succeed in life.
The subject that posed the most significant challenge for us was Additional Mathematics. We consistently scored zero marks, and our grades were not improving. So we decided to take action. We went to the library every day after school, studied hard, and convinced our parents that we needed a tutor. We started working with a tutor who was passionate and patient, and we had two sessions with her every week.
With hard work, determination, and the help of our tutor, we slowly started to see progress. The subject that once felt impossible to us became clearer and more understandable. We felt more confident, and our grades improved. And finally, after months of hard work, we achieved something that we never thought was possible: we scored 100% on our Additional Mathematics exam, and we became the first Malays in our school’s history to achieve an A1 grade in the subject.
Our story is one of perseverance and hard work, and it is being shared with students to inspire them to achieve their dreams. We are often called to give speeches to students about our journey, and we hope that our story can motivate others to overcome their challenges.
Tutoring played a crucial role in our success. Our tutor not only helped us understand the subject but also motivated us to keep pushing forward. With her guidance and support, we were able to achieve our goals and prove to ourselves and others that we were not “hopeless.”
Tutoring can make a significant difference in a student’s life. It can help them gain confidence, improve their grades, and achieve their goals. With the right tutor, anything is possible. I am forever grateful for the support and guidance of our tutor, and I hope that our story can inspire others to seek out the help they need to succeed.
