A Glass of Water

Maggie was a new student in the school. She liked the school when she came for the interview with her parents. Her father got a promotion with a transfer from Chennai to Goa. So they had to shift their home. 

Maggie is studying in 9th grade. When she entered the class she saw new faces.  There were many girls and boys in the class. Some were reading text books, some chatting with their friends and the boys were playing with paper ball throwing and hitting one another. 

For first few months she liked the school and classmates very much. When time passed she was not happy to study there. She looked dull and moody when she returned back from school.  Maggie’s marks started to fall. From best student she became an average student.  Now her performance in the last exams was really bad. Her father and mother asked her if she finding the subjects difficult? Or is the syllabus heavy for her to read and memorize? Or can she understand the subjects?

The parents were shooting many questions to Maggie. Maggie kept quiet.

After a week, Maggie came to her mom and said “Mom, I don’t want to continue in this new school. Could you please send me to another school?”

Maggie’s mom was puzzled and said “Maggie Dear, what happened? Please tell me why you didn’t like this school?? I will try to help you to solve the problem.

Maggie slowly opened her mouth and started narrating what happened in the class. Maggie said “Earlier I found it all good and nice. But after few weeks my classmates started to tease me and gossip about me and also about my best friends.

When I answer a question asked by my teacher, the girls behind me laugh and make fun of me.

Maggie’s mom understood the situation her daughter was facing.  Well…she too underwent a same situation when she was at school.

Mom asked Maggie to do a simple task for three continuous days. Maggie was very eager to know what it was. Mom said “Maggie, it’s an easy task but you have to do it carefully. Take a glass of water. Fill it till its brim. Carry the glass of water and walk inside the class, in the corridor and play area. But you should not spill a drop of water on the floor”.

Maggie was excited. She said “Okay, Mom. I can do it. It’s simple and very easy. But tell me why I need to do this?”

Mom said “I will tell you at the end of third day”.

Maggie did the task correctly and she informed her mom that she did it.

Mom said “Maggie, I am happy that you obeyed my words. Now I want you to tell me, when you walk inside the class did you hear your friend’s speaking about you or did you see them laughing at you?”

Maggie answered “No, mom. My full concentration was on the glass of water and that I should not spill it”.

Mom, “Good, I hope now you can understand. When you focus on your work, you naturally ignore the insults or negative comments from others. I want you to keep your focus on your studies and ignore all the words that depress you”.

Maggie found the solution for the problem.

Moral: Stay focused on your goals. There will be too many distractions. Ignore things, people, and words spoken by them that have nothing to do with your goal.