humility

 Imagine a world where we all strutted around like peacocks, showing off our fancy watches and advanced degrees with no ounce of civility (ò_óˇ)

A peacock strutting around.

That would be a world without humility. Humility is a virtue as it keeps us striving for greater things and keeps us open-minded. To be proud is to have an ego preventing you from seeking help or looking weak. To be humble is to acknowledge your weakness in all of its reality and embrace it, moving on in spite of it towards success and glory. Many organisations and people have attained success, but only very few of them are humble. In the end, it is these modest powers that will prevail when the economy fails and everyone flails in desperation, trying to stay afloat. 

One such power would be Amazon. Designed to aid the common people, Amazon had always adapted to suit its customers' needs. The company started by selling books, then expanded to selling e-books and devices to read those e-books. Eventually, it grew its market to include everything from shirts to pans and halloween costumes. Amazon's humility, its belief that it could be overtaken by e-commerce giants like Shoppee and Lazada any day, forced it to relentlessly adjust their approach and tirelessly edit their products. In this way, Amazon will leave a lasting legacy: the fire that never went out.

Another wielder of humility's power would be Jenny, my maths teacher. Despite having graduated from Cambridge with a degree in Mathematics, she frequently engaged in passionate discussions with her students. She would ask us about our methods of solving maths problems and, after reviewing our work, she would exclaim in childlike glee that we were geniuses. Every time she stepped into the classroom, she learnt something new. I think that her humility, her utter ignorance of her title and status, opened doors that she would never have seen otherwise. She broke free of the chains of power hierarchies and bureacracy to embrace learning at every turn, growing every day. She was an inspiration to all.

Lastly, I've come to discuss a political party that has remained humble throughout their years of power, never failing to toil earnestly for their people. The People's Action Party (PAP) could have grown drunk with power and turned tyrannical, corrupt. But it did not. After the merger with Malaya, Singapore seemed unstoppable, until it stopped. This one setback, the separation from Malaysia, was a pivotal step in the PAP's history. At that moment, they realized how weak and alone they were. With no one to turn to but themselves, the PAP worked day and night, drafting policy after policy to get Singaporeans back on their feet. And it worked. Despite their astounding success at transforming an obsolete, deserted fishing port into a bustling metropolitan business hub, they never once rested on their laurels. To this day, they remain vigilant, on their toes, wary of the eyes that watch them, the hands waiting to swat them off their pedestal.

In a way, we all are peacocks. Simply by inspecting our small talk, one can clearly see the "ladder" of status apparent in every conversation, every interaction, like a sticky web of self-preservation hiding underneath. We all need to feel like we are better than someone else. It is a normal feeling. But it is those who can rise above that baser instinct, who defy human nature, that truly succeed -- and keep that success.

The ladder of status.

That was my essay on humility for my English revision! Did you like it? I think it was inspired in part by a new book that I have just finished reading today: The Companion by Katie Alender (whose name rhymes with calendar!). You should check the book out if you like a main character who survived a tragedy but braves the world with a hardy attitude. Also, a big old house and a dirty mystery feature ominously in that epic tome. 

Okay, I'll stop. I won't spoil you any more!

Cover of The Companion by Katie Alender. Provided by Amazon!