Sometimes something negative turns out to be positive - “a blessing in a disguise.” Describe a time in your life when something bad turned out to be good.

Several months ago, I started preparing for SSAT. I did this rigorous test because I wanted to fulfill my ultimate dream of attending a prestigious boarding school. All my life, I had been learning Singapore’s curriculum. Now all of a sudden, I was expected to take an exam filled with American topics.

The first time I saw an SSAT reading comprehension passage, I felt my head pounding. Not only was the content difficult, but the topics were also about US politics, history, literature, and social studies. These topics were incredibly challenging to me because I have never come across them in my life! I was facing immense pressure as I had high expectations for myself.

The day of the exam finally came. I was prepared for a 3-hour exam, but when I found out there were barely any breaks, I genuinely almost want to give up. However, I didn’t want to waste my hard work, so I tried my best and endured the mental suffering until the end of the test. When I exited the building, I felt so relieved because I deserved to go home relax and play with my friends.

Even though the practice was really tough and tedious, I realized it was a blessing in disguise! When I went back to school, I didn’t realize that I improved so much in English in terms of my vocabulary, reading, and also writing. Furthermore, I now know so much more about US history. Knowing this can greatly benefit me when I go to a US boarding school.

Now, looking back on my hard-work and perseverance, I think it was very worth the effort. Even though I worked under pressure and stress for months, I still managed to overcome the challenge. This event turned out to be a positive experience for me.