Joyce’s small hands trembled as she gripped her pencil, staring at the math problem before her. The classroom was silent, save for the occasional scratch of pencils on paper and the ticking of the clock on the wall. She glanced around, noticing her classmates scribbling away confidently. Nona, seated two rows ahead, was already flipping to the next page of the exam paper.

A knot formed in Joyce’s stomach as she looked back at her own barely-started test. The numbers seemed to dance on the page, rearranging themselves in a confusing jumble. She blinked hard, trying to focus, but the more she stared, the more muddled everything became.

Mrs. Ng’s gentle voice broke through her panic. “Fifteen minutes left, class. Remember to check your work if you finish early.”

Joyce’s heart raced. Fifteen minutes? She had barely answered half the questions. Desperately, she began scribbling down answers, knowing they were probably wrong but unable to leave the spaces blank. As she rushed through the last problem, Mrs. Ng called time.

“Pencils down, everyone. Please pass your papers forward.”

With a heavy heart, Joyce handed her exam to the student in front of her. She caught a glimpse of Nona’s paper as it passed by – neat, organized, and completely filled out. Joyce slumped in her seat, a familiar feeling of inadequacy washing over her.

As they filed out of the classroom, Joyce overheard Nona chatting excitedly with another classmate. “That wasn’t so bad, was it? I think I might have gotten full marks!”

Joyce quickened her pace, trying to escape the cheerful chatter of her peers. She made her way to the school gate, where she knew her mother would be waiting. As she approached, she saw Mdm Leong deep in conversation with another parent – Lyn’s mother.

“Oh, here comes Joyce now,” Mdm Leong said, waving her over. “How was your math exam, dear?”

Joyce hesitated, her eyes darting between her mother and Lyn’s mother. “It was… okay,” she mumbled, not meeting their eyes.

Mdm Leong’s smile faltered slightly. “Just okay? Well, I’m sure you did your best. Lyn, how about you? I hear you’ve been doing exceptionally well in math lately.”

Lyn, standing beside her mother, nodded shyly. “It went well, Aunty. The questions weren’t too difficult.”

“That’s wonderful!” Mdm Leong exclaimed, her voice tinged with a hint of envy. “You must be so proud,” she added, turning to Lyn’s mother.

As the adults continued their conversation, Joyce felt herself shrinking, wishing she could disappear. The walk home was filled with Mdm Leong’s not-so-subtle hints about the importance of doing well in school, especially in math.

“You know, Joyce, Lyn’s mother was telling me that Lyn spends an extra hour every day practicing math problems. Maybe we should consider doing the same for you,” Mdm Leong suggested, her tone a mix of concern and expectation.

Joyce nodded silently, her mind already racing with anxiety about the exam results. She knew her mother’s disappointment was inevitable, and the thought made her stomach churn.

Days passed, and the atmosphere at home grew tenser as the date for receiving exam results approached. Joyce found herself spending more time in her room, doodling in her notebook – a secret escape from the pressure that seemed to fill every corner of the house.

Finally, the day arrived. Joyce clutched her report card tightly as she made her way home, her steps heavy with dread. As she entered the living room, Mdm Leong looked up from her laptop, her eyes immediately zeroing in on the envelope in Joyce’s hand.

“Is that your report card?” Mdm Leong asked, her voice tight with anticipation.

Joyce nodded, reluctantly handing over the envelope. She watched as her mother’s eyes scanned the contents, her expression shifting from hope to disappointment.

“Joyce,” Mdm Leong began, her voice low and controlled, “can you explain this to me? A ‘C’ in math? And barely passing grades in science and English?”

Joyce felt tears welling up in her eyes. “I… I tried my best, Mom. The questions were really hard, and I-“

“Your best?” Mdm Leong interrupted, her voice rising. “Joyce, this is far from your best. Do you know where this kind of performance will lead you? How do you expect to keep up with your classmates if you can’t even pass basic subjects?”

The dam broke, and Joyce’s tears began to fall freely. “I’m sorry, Mom. I really did try. I just… I don’t understand sometimes. The numbers get all mixed up, and-“

“Mixed up?” Mdm Leong scoffed. “Joyce, you’re nine years old. These are simple problems. Lyn has no trouble with them. In fact, she’s at the top of your class. What’s your excuse?”

The mention of Lyn was the final straw. All the pent-up frustration and self-doubt that had been building in Joyce for months came pouring out. “I’m not Lyn!” she shouted, surprising both herself and her mother. “I can’t be Lyn! I’m trying, Mom, I’m really trying, but I can’t do it!”

Mdm Leong stared at her daughter, momentarily stunned by the outburst. “Joyce, I’m not asking you to be Lyn. I’m asking you to put in the effort to succeed. These grades are unacceptable. How do you think this reflects on our family?”

Joyce’s shoulders slumped, her anger giving way to a deep, aching sadness. “I don’t know what else to do, Mom. I study every night. I pay attention in class. But when I look at the problems, everything just gets jumbled up. I feel so… so stupid.”

The raw pain in Joyce’s voice seemed to penetrate Mdm Leong’s frustration. Her expression softened slightly, but the disappointment remained evident. “You’re not stupid, Joyce. You just need to apply yourself more. From now on, we’re going to have a strict study schedule. No more doodling or daydreaming. Your education is too important.”

Joyce nodded numbly, too exhausted to argue further. As she turned to go to her room, Mdm Leong called out, “And Joyce? I expect to see improvement next term. No more excuses.”

In the sanctuary of her room, Joyce curled up on her bed, her body shaking with silent sobs. She reached for her sketchbook, seeking comfort in the familiar act of drawing, but her mother’s words echoed in her mind. With a heavy heart, she pushed the sketchbook away and pulled out her math textbook instead.

As she stared at the numbers and symbols that seemed to mock her from the pages, Joyce felt a deep sense of loneliness and inadequacy wash over her. She was trying her best, but her best never seemed to be good enough. The pressure to meet her mother’s expectations, to keep up with her high-achieving classmates, felt like a weight crushing her spirit.

In that moment, as the afternoon sun cast long shadows across her room, Joyce made a silent promise to herself. She would work harder, study longer, do whatever it took to make her mother proud. But deep down, a small voice whispered that perhaps there was something more to her struggles than just a lack of effort – a voice that would grow louder in the days to come, challenging everything Joyce thought she knew about herself and her abilities.

As night fell, Joyce lay awake, her mind racing with anxiety about the future. Tomorrow would bring another day of school, another chance to fall short of expectations. But it would also bring an unexpected ally in her corner – Mrs. Ng, whose keen eye and compassionate heart would soon set Joyce on a path of self-discovery that would change everything.