How I fixed my Life
and how you can too
12 Lessons. 12 years of Schooling.
Hi, I’m Samriddhi , a 12th-grade student currently serving as the Sports Head Girl at my school, Joint Secretary at the Interact Club, and much more.Over the years, I’ve actively participated in debates and public speaking. I’ve done 8+ MUNs, over 20 debates, and brought laurels to my school through several interschool and national-level competitions.Apart from academics and leadership, sports have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve previously been a national-level tennis player and have also played football, chess, swimming, gymnastics, athletics, and badminton competitively. Alongside all of this, I’ve pursued dramatics and performed in 4+ theatre productions, including at the National School of Drama.
Managing all of this simultaneously while scoring 94% in my Class 10 board exams may sound perfect, doesn’t it?
But if you had told the Samriddhi of 4th or 5th grade that this would one day be her life, she probably would’ve laughed at you. To her, this version of herself felt completely out of reach.
Today, I stand where younger me once dreamed of being — and strangely, it still doesn’t feel like I’ve “arrived.” Because with every milestone achieved, I discover newer goals, bigger dreams, and more room to grow.
So here are the 12 lessons I learned through 12 years of schooling. Think of them as a guide to making your school life better — or maybe even improving your life beyond school.
And before you continue reading, let me tell you something honestly: nothing in life is a complete cure-all.
Not getting into your dream college.
Not dating that one person everyone envies.
Not securing the perfect grades.
Not getting that leadership position.
None of these things magically fix your life or your insecurities overnight.
But they do make life better.
It’s similar to how people say money can’t buy happiness — and maybe it can’t — but it can solve problems, create opportunities, and make life significantly easier.
The same goes for achievements. They won’t complete you, but they can help shape you into a stronger, more confident version of yourself.
So, I hope you enjoy reading this blog:)
1. Prioritise Yourself
Prioritising yourself doesn’t mean becoming selfish. It means understanding what truly matters to you instead of constantly living according to other people’s expectations.
One of the biggest mistakes I made during my school life was trying to fit into every crowd and become everyone’s favourite — even if it meant harming myself in the process. I would do people’s work, give them all my time and attention, and ignore the fact that many of them were only nice to my face while talking behind my back.
Back in 9th grade, I was extremely conscious about how people perceived me. I wanted everyone to like me. Obviously, that never worked, and things eventually turned against me instead.
Prioritising yourself also means taking care of your health, academics, peace, and overall well-being. It means standing up for yourself, raising your voice when needed, and not allowing others to exploit you.
Over time, I realised that one of the most important parts of prioritising yourself is self-love. Earlier, I thought self-love was just another word for selfishness, but growing up taught me otherwise. Self-love means understanding that, just like everyone else, you also deserve love — especially from yourself first.
Solitude teaches peace. Spending time alone helps you understand your flaws, insecurities, strengths, and emotions better. We’ve been made to feel uneasy with the idea of being single, as if being alone automatically means being unhappy. But learning to be content with yourself is what helps you build healthy relationships in the future — relationships based on love and understanding rather than loneliness or dependency.
And honestly, learning to choose yourself sometimes is not selfish — it’s necessary.
2. Health = Wealth
“People often lose health gaining wealth, and then lose wealth gaining health.”
Health is one of the most precious gifts we have because without a healthy mind and body, it becomes difficult to truly enjoy or achieve anything in life.
Growing up as an obese child, I understood the importance of health very early. And unfortunately, I also understood how society treats you based on your appearance. I know it’s wrong to judge someone physically, but that’s the paradox of society — when you’re overweight, people often assume you’re lazy, unfocused, or unambitious; and when you finally get in shape, the same people suddenly admire you or call you “changed.”
So honestly, stop letting other people’s opinions decide how you feel about yourself. Their opinions cannot decide your future unless you allow them to.
I used to believe that being overweight wouldn’t matter as long as I was good at studies. But I was wrong. Health affects much more than appearance — it impacts your confidence, mental health, energy, discipline, and overall quality of life. For me, it brought health issues, self-doubt, and emotional struggles too.
Over time, I started taking my health seriously and eventually lost 15 kg (I’ll probably write a detailed blog on that soon). And trust me, the way people treated me changed completely — even though I was still the same person inside.
That experience taught me something important: good health is not about fitting into beauty standards; it’s about becoming the strongest, happiest, and healthiest version of yourself.
3. Learn Beyond Textbooks
Growing up, I always had the urge to learn everything around me and stay informed or prepared in advance. A part of me feared that if I didn’t know enough, someone smarter could easily fool me someday.
For a long time, I found this habit exhausting — until I started participating in MUNs, debates, and public speaking forums. That’s when I realised how powerful knowledge actually is.
Learning beyond textbooks gives you confidence. It helps you express your opinions better, understand the world around you, and hold meaningful conversations. Being knowledgeable doesn’t mean memorising facts all day; it means staying curious about life, people, politics, psychology, technology, finance, history, or anything that genuinely interests you.
And honestly, one of the best ways to gain knowledge is by reading as much as you can. If you read just two books every month, you’ll end up reading 24 books in a year — and trust me, that compounds over time more than we realise. Read whatever excites you, challenges your thinking, improves your creativity, or expands your understanding of the world. It doesn’t always have to be “serious” books. Even one good idea from one good book can completely change the way you think.
Reading also gives you a different kind of confidence — not the loud confidence that seeks attention, but the quiet confidence that comes from awareness and understanding. The more you learn, the more capable you become of helping others, leading conversations, solving problems, and making a difference in people’s lives.
School teaches us subjects, but real growth often happens outside textbooks. The more aware and informed you are, the stronger your voice becomes in every room you enter — and sometimes, that one informed voice is enough to inspire change around you.
4. Seek Maximum Exposure & Build A Network
One of the best things you can do during your school life is expose yourself to as many experiences and people as possible. Participate in competitions, debates, sports, theatre, internships, public speaking, volunteering, MUNs — anything that helps you grow beyond the classroom.
Most people avoid opportunities because they’re scared of failure, embarrassment, or looking inexperienced. But the truth is, exposure is what builds confidence. The more situations you put yourself into, the more adaptable and skilled you become.
At the same time, exposure also helps you build a strong network. And no, networking doesn’t mean being fake or talking to people only for personal benefit. It simply means building genuine connections with people who inspire you, guide you, and help you grow.
One thing I realised during school was that many opportunities often remain limited to a certain “elite” circle — the students who are already well-known, highly connected, or constantly visible to teachers and seniors. Even positions in school societies or major events sometimes circulate within closed networks. And honestly, as someone who once felt like an outsider, that used to frustrate me a lot.
But over time, I understood that instead of complaining about the system, I needed to learn how to enter those spaces myself. Building connections with seniors, teachers, friends, and mentors helped me discover opportunities I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Sometimes a senior guided me, sometimes a teacher recommended me, and sometimes a simple conversation opened a completely new door for me.
That’s when I realised that networking is not manipulation — it’s visibility. People can only support your growth when they know who you are, what you’re capable of, and how serious you are about your work.
A student who only studies inside classrooms and a student who explores the world outside academics think very differently. Exposure teaches communication, leadership, confidence, teamwork, and how to deal with the real world — things no textbook can fully teach.
So put yourself out there. Try new things, meet new people, fail publicly, learn publicly, and grow publicly. Sometimes, one opportunity or one connection can completely change the direction of your life.
5.Choose Your Circle Wisely
You eventually become like the people you spend the most time with. If you’re in a group of five people and four of them constantly waste their time, avoid responsibilities, or make bad decisions, chances are you’ll slowly become the fifth one too.
People often underestimate how deeply our environment affects us — even when we’re fully aware that it’s harming us. Your circle doesn’t just influence your habits or mindset; it also shapes your social image and the way people perceive you. And that matters a lot in school life, especially when you’re aiming for leadership positions or trying to build a good reputation.
No one openly says it, but people observe everything — your company, your behaviour, your attitude, and the kind of energy you surround yourself with.
Back in 9th grade, I used to hang out with someone I’ll call “Liches.” Somewhere deep down, I knew she wasn’t a good influence on me. She encouraged me to bunk classes, spend time with the wrong seniors, and slowly pull myself away from the person I actually was.
And somewhere along the way, I realised I wasn’t Samriddhi anymore — I had become “Liches 2.0.”
When my parents started getting calls from school, they realised the damage had already been done. They warned me to distance myself, but I was so emotionally attached to that friendship that I ignored everyone else who genuinely cared about me. I had started idolising someone who was slowly destroying my discipline, mindset, and identity.
After multiple conversations, counselling sessions, and a lot of self-reflection, I finally understood the importance of having the right people around you.
A good circle pushes you to grow, supports your goals, corrects you when you’re wrong, and genuinely wants the best for you. A bad circle may feel exciting temporarily, but it slowly drains your potential without you even realising it.
And honestly, it is always better to stay alone than stay surrounded by the wrong people.
6. Master the Art of People
Your chances of succeeding in life often depend less on talent alone and more on your ability to deal with people. Honestly, I wish someone had told me this earlier.
Being a multidimensional person, I always focused only on what seemed important to me — that one presentation, exam, debate, match, or competition. I worked hard on my goals but ignored the social side of life, without realising how important it actually was.
When I was younger, I had a lot of friends. But as I grew older, the number slowly reduced — square root, then cube root, then almost half. And honestly, now only a few people truly remain close to me.
Back then, I thought anyone I talked to was automatically my friend. But growing up changed my definition of friendship. I realised that not every connection lasts forever, and not every person you spend time with genuinely stays in your life. Some friendships naturally fade with time, distance, or changing priorities — and that’s okay.
I was also extremely shy and introverted as a child. I didn’t talk to people much, and unfortunately, many people misunderstood that silence as arrogance or rudeness. For a long time, I felt helpless because I didn’t know how to express myself better socially.
But over time, I realised that communication and people skills are just as important as talent or intelligence. A good leader is not only respected for achievements but is also valued by their team. Leadership works best when people feel heard, understood, and connected to you.
Learning how to communicate, understand emotions, maintain relationships, and treat people well can take you much further in life than you imagine. Because at the end of the day, opportunities, leadership, teamwork, and success are all built around people.
7. Study Great Leaders
One of the most underrated ways to grow in life is by observing great leaders — not just political leaders or CEOs, but teachers, captains, seniors, parents, mentors, and even students around you. Every leader teaches something, either through their success or through their mistakes.
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Growing up, I used to think leadership was all about being powerful, confident, outspoken, or controlling others. But over time, especially after taking leadership positions in school, I realised that real leadership is much deeper than that.
A good leader knows how to listen. They know how to stay calm under pressure, solve problems, motivate people, and make others feel valued. Leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room — sometimes it’s about being the person who brings stability when everything feels chaotic.
I started closely observing how different people led their teams — some ruled through fear, some through respect, and some through genuine connection. And honestly, the leaders people remember the most are usually the ones who made others feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Studying leaders also helped me understand something important: every leader has flaws. Nobody gets everything right. But what separates good leaders from the rest is their ability to learn, adapt, take responsibility, and continue moving forward despite criticism or failure.
Whether it’s in student council, sports teams, classrooms, or life itself — leadership is everywhere. And the more you observe people carefully, the more you understand what kind of leader you want to become someday.
8. Win People Around You
You cannot win battles alone if the people around you don’t support you. No matter how talented, intelligent, or hardworking you are, growth becomes difficult when you constantly stand isolated from everyone else.
Earlier, I used to believe that hard work alone was enough to succeed. And while hard work is extremely important, I eventually realised that life is also about teamwork, relationships, and the way people feel around you.
Winning people around you doesn’t mean being fake, manipulative, or trying to please everyone. It simply means learning how to make people feel respected, valued, and understood. Sometimes a kind conversation, helping someone genuinely, appreciating others, or simply listening carefully can build stronger connections than achievements ever can.
During competitions, leadership roles, and school events, I realised that the people who succeed the most are often the ones who know how to bring others together. A person may be individually brilliant, but if nobody wants to work with them, support them, or trust them, their growth eventually becomes limited.
People support those who make them feel important. They remember how you treated them during difficult moments, how you behaved when you had power, and whether your success made you humble or arrogant.
And honestly, one of the strongest forms of influence is not forcing people to follow you — it’s making people genuinely want to stand beside you.
9. Consistency is the Key
This is probably one of the most important lessons I’ve learned so far: consistency matters in every part of life.
Whether it’s studying daily, exercising regularly, practicing gratitude, improving a skill, or simply showing up every day — small actions repeated consistently always create bigger results than temporary bursts of motivation.
Doing 10 pushups a day for a month is better than doing 300 pushups once and quitting the next day. Reading for just 15–20 minutes daily can help you finish 20+ books in a year. It’s the little habits done repeatedly that truly shape our lives.
And the biggest thing I realised is that growth should be discipline-driven, not mood-driven.
A lot of my performance during high school depended on my emotions or the kind of day I was having. A bad phase or heartbreak would completely affect my academics for weeks, while one productive workout or good day would suddenly make me feel energetic and motivated again.
But life cannot always function according to our moods. Motivation comes and goes, emotions change constantly, and circumstances are never perfect. Consistency is what keeps you moving even on days when you don’t feel like doing anything.
The people who truly grow in life are not always the most talented — they are usually the ones who keep showing up, even on ordinary days. Because success is rarely built in one dramatic moment; it is built quietly through daily habits, discipline, and repetition.
10. Create Your Own Path
Humans are similar by nature, yet every person is completely different in their own way. From childhood itself, we learn through observation and copying — how to walk, talk, behave, communicate, and even think. That’s how humans naturally grow.
But somewhere along the way, many people forget their own individuality and slowly become copied versions of someone else without even realising it.
Copying feels easy because it reduces effort. Our minds naturally enjoy shortcuts — following trends, copying personalities, imitating success, or trying to become exactly like someone we admire. And honestly, in today’s world, where even AI can imitate humans, originality has become more valuable than ever.
School life works the same way. People often confuse inspiration with imitation. Getting inspired by someone is healthy — it motivates you to improve yourself. But completely copying someone’s personality, style, opinions, or goals slowly destroys your own identity.
The truth is, the people who stand out in life are usually the ones who embrace what makes them different. Your originality, your experiences, your flaws, your perspective, and your personality are the things that make you irreplaceable.
If you want to become truly unforgettable in life, stop trying to become someone else’s duplicate version. Learn from people, admire people, get inspired by people — but never lose your own voice in the process.
Because at the end of the day, the world doesn’t remember copies for long. It remembers originals.
11. Learn to Win
A lot of people in my school know me as “the girl who wins every competition she participates in.” Over time, I’ve been called things like competition crusher, trophy connoisseur, and many other funny titles. But what most people don’t see is the amount of preparation, discipline, and effort that goes behind every single achievement.
For the past few years, I’ve mentally observed my own win-loss ratio every time I participated somewhere. And honestly, in the beginning, it was terrible. For almost the first three months, I barely won anything. But slowly, things started changing — I improved, learned from my mistakes, and eventually reached a point where I began winning consistently.
That journey taught me something important: winning is not luck, it’s a skill. And like every skill, it can be learned.
Here are a few things that genuinely helped me:
a) Always Be Prepared
This is probably the most important one. A prepared person almost always performs better than an unprepared but talented person.
Whether it’s a debate, MUN, group discussion, interview, or public speaking competition — preparation gives you confidence. And confidence changes your entire performance.
If you’re participating in something like an MUN conference, don’t just prepare your own portfolio. Research other countries, possible questions, counterarguments, and the overall committee agenda. For example, if your committee is UNDP and your portfolio is India, having an overview of other countries’ stances instantly gives you an upper hand.
Not only does this improve your performance, but it also creates a strong impression on judges and executive boards that you are serious, informed, and prepared.
b) Practice Makes You Better
No speech becomes perfect magically. Practice is what creates confidence and smooth delivery.
Always practice your speeches at least 2–3 times before presenting them publicly — personally, I’d recommend 5 times if possible. Practicing helps you organise your thoughts, reduce nervousness, improve body language, and mentally prepare yourself for the audience.
And if possible, practice in front of mentors, seniors, teachers, or friends who can point out your mistakes and help you improve. If nobody is available, practice in front of a mirror — it genuinely helps more than people realise.
c) Learn From Every Loss
One thing that changed my mindset completely was stopping myself from taking losses personally. Earlier, losing used to make me question my abilities. But over time, I realised that every defeat teaches something that victory never can.
Sometimes you lose because someone was simply better prepared. Sometimes because your communication lacked clarity. Sometimes because you panicked under pressure. But every loss leaves clues about where you need to improve.
The moment you stop seeing failure as humiliation and start seeing it as feedback, growth becomes much faster.
d) Confidence Matters More Than Perfection
Most people think winners are always the most talented people in the room. But honestly, many times the winner is simply the person who presented themselves with the most confidence and clarity.
You do not need to know everything perfectly to perform well. You just need to believe in your preparation and present yourself confidently. The audience usually remembers energy, confidence, and presence more than tiny mistakes.
e) Meditate & Control Your Mind
This one sounds underrated and honestly a little boring, but it works.
Meditating for even 5–7 minutes before a competition or public performance helps calm your mind, control nervousness, and improve focus. It helps you maintain composure under pressure instead of panicking emotionally.
A calm mind performs better than an anxious one.
And honestly, winning is not always about being the smartest person in the room — sometimes it’s about being the calmest, most prepared, and most consistent person there.
12. Never Forget to Have Fun
It’s important to be serious about your goals, career, and future — but it’s equally important to enjoy the journey along the way. Without that, life starts feeling incomplete no matter how successful you become.
And no, having fun doesn’t mean wasting extra hours of your day. It means learning how to enjoy whatever you’re already doing. Learn to have fun while studying, participating in competitions, playing sports, working with people, or simply living through ordinary moments.
For most of my life, I was always the “career-oriented,” sincere girl who listened to everyone and tried to do everything perfectly. And while that made me look nearly perfect in front of the world, somewhere inside, I became emotionally exhausted and less joyful around the people closest to me.
That’s when I realised that achievements alone are not enough. Memories matter too. Because honestly, nothing lasts forever — not school, not positions, not competitions, not even people sometimes. What truly stays with us are the memories we create and the experiences we live through.
These school days won’t come back. So laugh more, participate more, make memories, take pictures, enjoy the chaos, trust the process, and give your best while leaving the rest to the universe. Sometimes, life works out better when you stop trying to control every single outcome.
Having fun also changes your mindset. It helps you become more optimistic, emotionally stronger, and more present in the moment.
And with that, these “12 Lessons from 12 Years of Schooling” come to an end.
I don’t know if this blog will completely change your life — probably not. But if even one lesson from my experiences helps you become a little stronger, wiser, happier, or more confident, then writing this was worth it.
So wherever you are in your journey right now — keep growing, keep learning, keep trying, and most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the process along the way.
Best Regards,
Samriddhi Jaiswal.
