You Who Didn't Get A-Plus

Those of you who didn't get A+, don't be disheartened.

Why should you be? Did you really not know you wouldn't get that A+? When you were comfortably slacking off, didn't it cross your mind that you'd be crying like this today? Ask yourself honestly—did you really study properly? Yes, go ahead and cry in front of your parents and relatives! It's the polite thing to do. When results aren't good, it looks odd if you don't shed a few tears! But along with that, ask your conscience clearly—did you really not slack off in your studies? Put your conscience in the dock; you're not a little child anymore. From today on, the world won't forgive you. You'll realize this more in the coming days—right down to your bones, your flesh, your blood! The world isn't a very accommodating place!

Yes, some of you were supposed to get A+ but didn't. I mean, some "good students" missed their A+. Know this: in this world, there's no such thing as "was supposed to get." What you got or didn't get—that's the only truth, the final word. The good news for you is, if you really did study, if your foundation is truly strong, you will reap the benefits! Wait for it. Academic results are a very poor indicator for judging someone's future.

Some of you don't even know why you got that A+. Maybe you're not saying anything out loud, but you're thinking, "I was supposed to get it, and I did!" and taking on that attitude... but your heart knows what your heart knows! No matter, this happens! I understand, I understand! We are who we are! Seeing you, those who thought they'd get A+ but didn't are feeling very sad. You're happy—be happy. Just keep this in mind: SSC exam results really don't amount to much. They truly don't—I'm saying this from knowledge and experience. May there never come a day when life kicks you so hard that you don't even realize when it happened! Be careful. Step very carefully. Keep preparing yourself. Give yourself hardship, push yourself hard. Life isn't about A+. Life is about—how much one prepares oneself, and how much luck stays by one's side... in the end.

Most of you who got A+ did so because you studied properly. The joy you're feeling was rightfully yours. I pray you continue moving forward. But remember this: you won't necessarily go much further than those who didn't get A+. Time will tell—wait and see. Keep your head down and wait. You're jumping around today, and it's lovely to see. But take care of your legs too, so they stay strong... for future jumping as well. If you jump today but start limping from tomorrow onward, how will that look? Then everyone will laugh at you. More importantly, you'll lose to yourself. The greatest defeat in the world is failing to stand tall before your own conscience.

Those of you who are upset about not getting A+, you make me laugh. Why, you know? For two reasons.

One. Is getting A+ really such a big deal? If a person's worth were determined by their academic results, the world's history would be different today. I know there's no point saying this—everyone looks at results at the end of the day. I also know that after the end of the day, more days remain. Let others keep their eyes fixed on today's end; you keep yours on the end of the days ahead. There's no connection—no connection, no connection—between what your results were or weren't, and what you will or won't become in life! Keep this simple formula in mind: Person A is a good student. Person A couldn't accomplish much in life. Therefore, Person A is a failed good student. Come, let's see how Person A wallows in self-satisfaction by recounting stories of their past life! And when we're done watching, come, let's have a little laugh. Ha ha ha... (Don't take offense, the world is more or less like this!)

Two. In our time, there was something called "standing"—making the merit list. Only the first 20 students in an education board would "stand" on the merit list (based on marks obtained). Their interviews would be published in newspapers. The nation would even learn how long each of them spent in the toilet, thanks to the papers. Those of us who couldn't stand thought of them as aliens. Parents considered their foot-wash water to be Coke-Pepsi-Fanta-Mirinda-Sprite and told us to drink it. We too would drink it mentally, or were forced to. Today I understand there's nothing special about their foot-wash water, because washing my feet also produces some water, which parents didn't understand then. Truly, back then no one could "accidentally" make the merit list, the way many of you now "accidentally" get A+. Yes, one had to burn a lot of midnight oil to stand. Being among the first twenty in a board! Getting "good marks" wasn't so easy then! Getting 99 in math wasn't the same as getting 80. 99 genuinely meant 19 marks more than 80! You today couldn't even imagine how honorable it was to stand back then! In life's broader context, if even that had no lasting value beyond some temporary self-satisfaction, then why are you having such absurd thoughts that getting or not getting this A+ has taken you to heaven or will take you there, or has made you fall from grace or will do so?

Whatever your results, just remember—there's still a long way to go. Where the coming days will take you, nothing can be said today. Where you see yourself or others see you 10-12 years from now will tell you how meaningful or meaningless today's joy or sorrow really was... Cry, cry, cry! You'll have to laugh ahead. Laugh, laugh, laugh! You'll have to cry ahead. No, this isn't a thumb rule! I said this because I've seen it happen to many. I've also seen people who laughed before and are still laughing. Alas, I've seen some people who cry their whole lives—as if they were born just to cry!

To those showing the victory sign, I congratulate you.
To those who can't show the victory sign, let me teach you a technique: spread your index and middle fingers in a V-shape, while simultaneously using your thumb to hold the other two fingers in a folded position—there's your V! That's it!

Remember,
A+ is just a grade, not ability or inability.
V is just a sign, not success or failure.
Wait—if life itself ever shows you a V, that day you'll understand—yes, this is what victory means!