School life for Hafsa was hard.
The Weight of Expectations
Hafsa never liked school much. By 2023, in Class 5, her world seemed like a constant warzone—a battle between herself, her environment, and her mind. ADHD made it hard to focus, and while her classmates breezed through lessons, Hafsa’s thoughts bounced around like a pinball. She wanted to concentrate, she really did, but her brain wouldn’t let her.
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Her teachers misunderstood her struggles. “You’re not trying hard enough,” they’d say, their voices sharp with disappointment. Even worse, her so-called friends didn’t make things easier. They’d laugh at her when she stumbled over her words or forgot homework. Toxic friendships wrapped around her like a thorny vine, suffocating her self-esteem.
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At home, things weren’t much better. Relatives would casually compare her to her cousins, listing their achievements like trophies on a shelf. Hafsa could almost hear their silent judgment: Why can’t you be like them? No one seemed to notice how hard she was trying—how every day felt like climbing a mountain barefoot.
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On top of it all, her body wasn’t kind to her either. Asthma made her lungs feel like they were caving in at the worst times, and anxiety gnawed at her constantly. Social anxiety turned simple conversations into terrifying ordeals, and depression made even getting out of bed feel impossible some days. But Hafsa pushed through, her resilience quiet and unseen.
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By 2024, a new school year brought a new curriculum in Bangladesh, one that was supposed to be better. Hafsa hoped for a fresh start, but it felt like the same story on a different day. The toxic friendships remained, now laced with more subtle jabs and cold shoulders. Her family’s expectations loomed larger.
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“Are you studying enough?”
“Your grades must be perfect!”
“Don’t embarrass us.”
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The pressure was unrelenting. Hafsa often escaped to her room, clutching her books, not because she loved studying but because it was one of the few places she could breathe. The outside world was too loud, too demanding. She turned to small comforts—her favorite scentless flowers, her books, and the rare moments when the world left her alone.
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Then came 2025, a year that changed everything. Hafsa’s baby sister was born in January. Despite the chaos in her life, this tiny life brought a sliver of hope. Holding her sister for the first time, Hafsa felt a rush of love unlike anything she’d known before. It was as if, for a moment, the world softened.
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But life didn’t stay gentle for long. Even when Hafsa performed well in her exams, the validation she craved never came. “This isn’t enough,” her parents said, brushing off her achievements like dust. Hafsa’s heart sank. What more could she possibly do to be enough for them?
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The hardest blow came when her best friend, the one person she thought would always stand by her, suddenly cut her off. The silence between them was deafening, and the betrayal left a wound that seemed impossible to heal. Hafsa replayed their last conversations over and over, trying to understand what she had done wrong.
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Still, not all was lost. A handful of friends stepped up, offering their unwavering support. They reminded Hafsa of her worth, celebrated her victories, and listened when she needed to vent. With them, she didn’t feel judged or inadequate—she felt seen.
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Hafsa realized she couldn’t control the opinions of others, whether they came from her family, friends, or teachers. But she could control how she responded. She started setting boundaries, distancing herself from toxic relationships, and focusing on the things that brought her joy. Her baby sister became a symbol of hope and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, life could still bring something beautiful.
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Through all the pain, Hafsa grew stronger. She learned that surviving wasn’t about perfection—it was about resilience. And as she looked ahead, she carried a quiet determination in her heart: to live for herself, not
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