Bigger Ponds

Age 14 – 15

Hands clutching my schedule, I make my way to Elgin Park Secondary School (EPS) for my first day of school. In British Columbia, high school starts in grade eight.

I remember our principal telling us that he was also new this year and that he hoped to graduate with us. Looking around the gymnasium, I sized up everyone I saw and thought to myself, “that’s my competition…”. I know I probably should have thought which ones I might be able to get to know better, but I was competitive. I wanted to do well academically and athletically, and thus in my mind, succeed.

Everything from basketball to jazz band was on my radar screen. I joined whatever I could. Every assignment was done above and beyond expectations.

In my grade nine math class (I passed the ‘skip a grade’ test) I met a guy whom I have seen before. He used to follow my friends and I around when we went camping and whenever we were in the park having a potluck or what-not. One day, there was a crowd around and I went up to see what was up. The guy which I mentioned was showing his homework (he may have been teaching it) and I looked over his paper and without second thought, commented, “Hey, you write like a girl.” That random guy who was good at math was called Andrew Chen, and he would become my best friend in the world.

Bigger ponds, in my opinion, don’t always refer to competition. For me, it also means exiting my own comfort zone, and finding a new self amognst the bigger school, more students, and “harder” academic environment. As well, I expanded my group of friends. Andrew and I had many things in common and were in many of the same bands, teams, and classes even outside of school.

Previous: Read “Age 13: Therefore Society”

Next: Read “Age 16-17: Be a Leader”

A significant event happened going from grade eight to grade nine. My parents gave me a book to read by the name of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. In it, the author mentions new ways of looking at money which I had never thought of before. They include: Money making money for you instead of time making money for you, the importance of passive income, and how you don’t need money to make money. These ideas shifted my archaic paradigms regarding money into a fresh and exciting new world.
I was very much affected by this book. After my awards ceremoney for the grade eight awards ceremoney, I was seen with a forlorn face, clutching four plaques, a medal, and a stack of award certificates. My parents asked me what was wrong and I replied, “This means nothing… the banker doesn’t look at your report card you know.” It could be argued that it was that statement which sent me wondering down a new path in life towards a world of being a leader, an entrepreneur, and a all-round person.