•   I guess everyone had felt the tension rising, especially those in the lower classes. It was a few months to go before the national final exams and the goodbyes. Only a small number could remain their cool and studied in the most relaxed manner. Those with friends from the upper classes spent more time with them studying their weakest subjects and doing their homeworks.  

    I have to admit I was one of the students who studied in the most relaxed manner. Some of my classmates even scolded me for being too relaxed. Nevertheless, I did study! I studied with my friend, Rina from the top class and another one of my friend, Azwan from the second lowest class. We had been close friends since we came to 15 years old.

    Over the years, we've watched other small groups change their members, got into cold wars, or their personalities changed drastically. even I changed a lot! From my 'ghost girl' image to 'hard to approach' to 'overly cheerful and friendly'. Hehehe... I wonder how that happened? 

    However, during this important year, everyone's true colours finally arose. Some of the kindest and most generous people turned into the most selfish witch; not wanting to give a helping hand when it comes to tutoring friends or batch mates, giving excuses like they do not want to be disturbed during their studying time or the particular friend had became annoying. Poor girls, they who were originally weak in academics either became weaker or they start their cold war by totally ignoring other people and became a loner. 

    It was heart breaking, watching these girls turning for the worst.  

    Surprisingly, it was the total opposite for some trouble makers and jocks. They who had been ignoring their academic achievements finally turned over a new leaf when they sought out for help from my group and the upper classes. They genuinely seeked help for the better instead of doing it just to perform a little better in their studies. One girl even increased her overall performance from a 'D' to an 'A'!  

    This is one experience I got from turning a D student into an A student.  Her name is Elly (not her real name) from the lowest class. She was a band girl, playing the percussion and she was the President of the UNESCO Club in our school. I understand if she could not have concentrated well during her class with all her work in the band and UNESCO. Though she seemed a bit frustrated when she couldn't perform well in her exams, she did a good job of acquiring help from me and Rina.  

    A huge success was she, when her usual 'I don't care' attitude changed into humble and inquisitive. Everday before the usual role call, she would enquire me about English, Biology or Chemistry or my friend Rina on Physics and Calculus. It doesn't end there, even during our night prep classes, she would scootch over closer to sit close to us for Q&A. I could sense potential in her efforts.

    Thanks to her improved results in the trial exams, more of my batch mates came to seek help, ranging from jocks, weirdos, trouble- makers and even nerds! Sad to say, those who had given up or not trying to achieve the best stayed silently behind with no one able to change their minds.

    Everything turned out well for my group of newfound friends. Me and Rina achieved straight 'A's for the national exams while Azwan got a bit of a slack from her Calculus and Biology, but she was okay with it since her grade did went up drastically from a 'C' to a low 'A'. So did the rest of the girls, even though they missed a few marks from getting straight 'A's, they did performed a lot better than their previous exams.