PRE-IB Application Essay

It came in a black case. I unzipped it and immediately held it in my hands. It was matte black with red sides which made it look like fire. I can still remember that it smelt like fresh paint and rubber. The grip was wrapped in plastic and it fit in my palm perfectly. It looked me square in the eyes as our hands met. This was my first ever racket. I started playing badminton when I was nine years old, and soon it had become an essential part of my life. My passion for the game grew and to fulfil the love for it, I became more proficient at finishing ‘obligatory’ activities, such as homework or chores around the house. After a few years of training stints, I got selected in the prestigious Prakash Padukone Badminton academy. My mother and I travelled for almost 80 days a year for state and national tournaments across India from city to city, dusty town to town, participating (and often winning). Later in 2013 I moved to join the Singapore Sports School to hone my badminton skills and learn in a world class education system. When I sought refuge in the game I

Even after moving to Singapore, my good academic performance in the first year, led me to be selected for the PRE-IB curriculum. However, in grade 9, coping with the rigour and not performing to the best of my abilities shattered my confidence. The subjects I aced earlier, no longer came naturally to me. I became extremely stressed and this led me to approach challenges and tests with hesitation and fear. The dread and anxiety contributed to the “Oh no!” outlook which was a barrier for me. Being away from home and family and suffering multiple injuries affected my athletic performance as well. Coping with all the setbacks was emotionally exhausting. Due to the build-up of negativity, grade 10 was no different. It was equally challenging for me no matter how hard I studied or how many sleepless nights I put