“Can Do Better”, A Line That Outlived My Report Card”
Every March, my report card landed on the dining-table like a dish no one ordered. Maths? Decent. English? Safe. Physics? Let’s blame the atmospheric pressure for that. Yet one remark refused to budge, scribbled in red ink under Teacher’s Comments: “can do better.” Three words that felt both like a sweet dish and a lemon; sweet praise followed by a sour nudge.
Fast-forward to adulthood. No more brown covers stamped “CBSE,” yet the comment section in my head still reads “can do better.” It pops up whenever late-night scrolling steals my 5 a.m. Yoga-With-Ambition slot or when one “friendly” habit quietly hijacks the timetable. Turns out, that red-ink note was less a judgment and more a lifelong hall pass.
Now, every morning feels as if the gates of a new academic year have just opened, with the sun playing the role of a strict yet optimistic principal ushering everyone in for roll call. I try to bring in at least one little upgrade to my day, whether it’s choosing to take a brisk walk around the neighbourhood, signing up for an online course that might finally teach me what all those tech people are talking about, or boldly opting for nimbu-paani instead of that mysterious soda lurking in the fridge. Each tiny choice gives my imaginary internal CGPA a gentle push upward, a little reward for simply showing up.
The dream of reaching perfection is somewhat like those legendary tales of someone actually scoring a perfect hundred in Sanskrit dictation. It sounds impressive, but let’s be honest, it’s mostly myth and uncle stories brought out at family gatherings. Striving for that untouched perfection usually ends with a heroic comeback story and a plate of samosas. Progress, on the other hand, is available to anyone willing to put in effort, no matter how many times their name was mispronounced at morning assembly. It’s the one subject that requires no entrance exam, no sweaty palms over admit cards, and absolutely no fear of the parental WhatsApp group. All you need is a pinch of enthusiasm and the willingness to try just a little bit more than yesterday, and suddenly, you find yourself moving forward, passing life’s surprise tests and collecting stamps of improvement along the way.
To my old classmates and to the future me rereading this post – if your inner mark sheet still stamps “can do better,” grin back at it. That stamp means the exam isn’t over; the bell hasn’t rung. The toughest teacher I ever had lives rent-free in my head—and, spoiler alert, she’s also my loudest cheer squad.