model compos - personal recount

model compos by @clarisstudycorner 1. Write about a time when you made a plan that did not turn out as expected and what you learnt from the experience. It was the first week of the June holidays, and I was determined to make the most of it. For once, I decided to plan my days down to the hour — a schedule so perfect I was convinced nothing could go wrong. The plan was simple. I would spend the mornings revising for my upcoming science exam, take a short break in the afternoon, and then work on a group project in the evenings. I even printed out a colourful timetable and stuck it on my wall. I felt motivated, confident, and proud of myself for being so organised. On the first day, things went smoothly. I woke up early, stuck to my revision slots, and even helped my group mates complete some slides. But on the second day, things started to fall apart. It began with a message from my cousin: “Hey, want to come over to play some games? Just for a bit.” I hesitated. According to my schedule, I was supposed to be revising. But I told myself, “One hour won’t hurt.” That one hour turned into four, and by the time I got home, I was too tired to study. The next day, I overslept. Since I had stayed up late gaming with my cousin, I missed my morning revision entirely. I told myself I would catch up in the afternoon, but then another friend asked if I wanted to join an online movie night. Again, I gave in. As the days passed, my plan slowly crumbled. The once-colourful timetable on my wall started to feel like a reminder of failure. I kept telling myself I would get back on track the next day, but I never did. By the end of the week, I had completed only a fraction of what I had planned. When I finally sat down and looked at how little I had achieved, I felt disappointed and frustrated. My grades were depending on this holiday, and I had wasted it chasing distractions. However, this experience taught me an important lesson. Having a plan is one thing, but sticking to it requires discipline. I realised that I had made the mistake of thinking motivation alone was enough. In reality, self-control and knowing when to say "no" were just as important. Since then, I’ve started setting more realistic goals. Instead of cramming everything into one