"Ready for Reality"

"Get ready with me" to face the weight of expectations. As my day begins, I, like many others, hope for wonderful things, wishing every problem will somehow find a solution and hoping for a frustration-free day. I’m manifesting every bit of luck I can get. Hello to you all! That was Ayumi Karine Ararao by the way! A very jolly, ambitious girl. But like any other, she has secrets.

Today, get ready with me to face THIS reality. Let’s be real: We all have expectations, right? Expectations from family, friends, society—the list never ends. We constantly feel pressured to measure up and hit every mark. But reality often SLAPS and shatters our "perfect" plans. I remember Ryan Reynolds saying, "When you have expectations, you're setting yourself up for disappointment," and I couldn’t agree more. The problem is people—yes, us—we often forget that reality is limited. We are limited. It’s okay to expect, but only if we do it realistically.

When you think of “getting ready,” what’s the first thing you do? You look in the mirror. Life can be compared to this; we have to start by looking at who we really are. You can’t truly live by trying to match someone else’s dream. Ask the question: "Who am I?" not, "Who do I want to be today?" Here’s the thing—when we set wild or unrealistic expectations, we’re setting ourselves up not just for failure, but for burnout and self-doubt. These are the key ingredients for disappointment. That’s why we need to remind ourselves to be REAL: true to life, true to self, true to fate. Expectations are powerful, but only when they’re built on a foundation of truth.

Let’s dig deeper into how to “get ready for reality.” It starts with a shift in mindset. Expectations aren’t always about perfection; They are guides for setting a vision and staying flexible. Realistic goals give us room to adapt, pivot, and grow instead of pushing us to give up. It’s important to know what you really want and understand your goals—this is what drives you, even when obstacles come your way.

I can’t deny that I also have expectations for myself. Let me share a moment from my own life that shows how those expectations can really shape us—sometimes in unexpected ways. There was a time when I was chosen to join a storytelling competition. I poured everything into preparing for it. I memorized the piece and practiced until my voice felt hoarse, expecting to deliver it perfectly because I have already built this image in my head on how I would be able to perform it flawlessly.

However, I stumbled over a few words. In that moment, my heart sank. I felt a wave of embarrassment, as though time itself had stopped, and I thought for sure that I had failed. But instead of letting that take over, I accepted my mistakes because I understood that they were part of the learning process, it wasn’t failure; it was part of the journey. Those stumbles, those imperfections, are the very steps that lead to growth. This experience built my confidence and reminded me that there is always room for improvement. It wasn’t the perfect delivery I had imagined, but it was real, I know to myself that I have done my best and that was enough—good enough for

me.

Next, focus on what you can control. You can’t change every twist and turn, but you can control your choices, your mindset, and your reactions. When you own your expectations—Its yours and its realistic—you’re not just ready to face reality; you’re ready to create it.

We need to be REAL: true to life, true to self, true to fate. So, let’s keep our expectations but ground them in reality, not fantasy. Let’s take control of our choices and get ready—not for a perfect life, but for a real one. A life full of unexpected turns, growth, and imperfections.

As we face the world today, ask yourself: Are you ready to Wake up tomorrow to an imperfect life full of chaos? Or are you ready for tomorrow’s reality?

A memorized speech by Ayumi Ararao of Grade 11. Delivered during the Elocution Contest 2024.