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Abstract

ated so much because each year, I didn’t make it to the next round.Yet, I always wanted to express myself with words, to create my own wonderful worlds, word by word.However, each year, I would always watch the same girls moving on to the zonal level, provincial level, and eventually the all-island level. I thought that my love for writing will never be of use. I felt useless.Fast forward to grade 12, to another crazy day at our crazy classroom. Some of the girls are happily discussing how handsome Mr X (whoever the heartthrob at the time was) looked on TV last night, some are answering MCQs as their life depended on it, and I am hesitating again.“Should I take part in competitions this time as well?“No, you shouldn’t”“But this is my last chance!”“You’ve got the A/Ls coming up girl! Besides, have you ever won any of those?”“But winning isn’t everything”.Trust me, answering MCQs seemed much easier than deciding “yes” or “no”.Suddenly, Mrs Malkanthi, our chemistry teacher, walks in. The class freezes in action. With her big spectacles and commanding presence, she is a figure to be feared.“Good morning girls!”“Good morning teacher”“I have an announcement. There’s an all-island scientific essay competition coming up. If anyone wants to take part, I’ve got more details”And the rest, as they say, is history. I remember walking into the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute after a few months for the prize-giving of that competition. I remember the excited voices of my teachers. “Congratulations Rochelle! Ayyo — where were you hiding all this time? All island fir

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st- that’s incredible. We’re proud of you”<h1 id="f776">Reflections</h1>And I realized that I had been a tube light for so long. It took my whole school life to figure out that my writing is not worthless. At least in the world of science, I could do something with my writing.That was just another tube light moment. It’s not a walk in the park. I don’t get jokes — about 80% of the time. People get to laugh about four times when someone cracks a joke and I’m around. There are times when I feel like shouting “Will you please stop calling me that stupid name?”But then again I think to myself, it’s ALRIGHT. Yes, I’m a tube light. But tube lights also provide light just like any other light. Though it might take more time for me, I can also be a shining beacon to others in need.Though it did take nearly 18 years, I discovered that I could do something with my writing skills. Ever since then, I must’ve written thousands of words to help others.Though I was clueless about bus routes at the beginning, I did find my way in Colombo and made it to the meeting on time. Despite all the ups and downs, on 22nd of December 2016, with the help of many others, I made sure that best speakers in the university of Moratuwa shone in their entire splendour.You may be a tube light like me or you may be a light that is always brilliant and bright. Whichever type you are, make sure that you pass on the light.Make sure that you shine bright for others who are in need of light.As Emerson said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — this is to have succeeded.”Whose life will you light up today?</article></body>

Perks of Being a Tube Light

Just because it takes a long time for you to understand a little thing doesn’t mean you should give up

According to the urban dictionary, a tube light is “someone who takes a long time to understand a little thing”. I’m kinda like that.

I’m the kind of person who would get on the bus for an important Speech Olympiad meeting at Colombo and then halfway through the journey, realizes that something is missing. Then I would scratch my head, bite my nails and finally decide to call a friend (Google maps weren’t an option back then).

“Which bus should I take after getting down from this bus? I’m 100% clueless”

I’m also the kind of person who would order huge banners for an event, and when someone asks me, “Well, how are you going to hang that? Did you bother to check whether there are any nails at the auditorium?”, I turn scarlet in embarrassment

You can see why I’ve earned the nickname of “tube light” Do you know how much it annoys me? You’re about to find out.

A story from my school days

Back when I was in school, we had competitions called “English day competitions” for creative writing, copywriting, dictation, recitation, and for me, hesitation. I hesitated so much because each year, I didn’t make it to the next round.

Yet, I always wanted to express myself with words, to create my own wonderful worlds, word by word.

However, each year, I would always watch the same girls moving on to the zonal level, provincial level, and eventually the all-island level. I thought that my love for writing will never be of use. I felt useless.

Fast forward to grade 12, to another crazy day at our crazy classroom. Some of the girls are happily discussing how handsome Mr X (whoever the heartthrob at the time was) looked on TV last night, some are answering MCQs as their life depended on it, and I am hesitating again.

“Should I take part in competitions this time as well?

“No, you shouldn’t”

“But this is my last chance!”

“You’ve got the A/Ls coming up girl! Besides, have you ever won any of those?”

“But winning isn’t everything”.

Trust me, answering MCQs seemed much easier than deciding “yes” or “no”.

Suddenly, Mrs Malkanthi, our chemistry teacher, walks in. The class freezes in action. With her big spectacles and commanding presence, she is a figure to be feared.

“Good morning girls!”

“Good morning teacher”

“I have an announcement. There’s an all-island scientific essay competition coming up. If anyone wants to take part, I’ve got more details”

And the rest, as they say, is history. I remember walking into the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute after a few months for the prize-giving of that competition. I remember the excited voices of my teachers. “Congratulations Rochelle! Ayyo — where were you hiding all this time? All island first- that’s incredible. We’re proud of you”

Reflections

And I realized that I had been a tube light for so long. It took my whole school life to figure out that my writing is not worthless. At least in the world of science, I could do something with my writing.

That was just another tube light moment. It’s not a walk in the park. I don’t get jokes — about 80% of the time. People get to laugh about four times when someone cracks a joke and I’m around. There are times when I feel like shouting “Will you please stop calling me that stupid name?”

But then again I think to myself, it’s ALRIGHT. Yes, I’m a tube light. But tube lights also provide light just like any other light. Though it might take more time for me, I can also be a shining beacon to others in need.

Though it did take nearly 18 years, I discovered that I could do something with my writing skills. Ever since then, I must’ve written thousands of words to help others.

Though I was clueless about bus routes at the beginning, I did find my way in Colombo and made it to the meeting on time. Despite all the ups and downs, on 22nd of December 2016, with the help of many others, I made sure that best speakers in the university of Moratuwa shone in their entire splendour.

You may be a tube light like me or you may be a light that is always brilliant and bright. Whichever type you are, make sure that you pass on the light.

Make sure that you shine bright for others who are in need of light.

As Emerson said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — this is to have succeeded.”

Whose life will you light up today?