It's Never Too Late to Reach Your Goal

They say that the paths to one’s hopes and dreams are not always straight and smooth — sometimes, along the way, there are sudden turns, painful falls, and moments when giving up seems easier than continuing. But those who rise again after every fall eventually taste the sweetness of success. My story is living proof of this.

In the year 1400 AHS (2021), I achieved what I had worked hard for: through the open competition exam (Kankor), I was admitted to Kunar University — officially called Syed Jamaluddin Afghan University — with 268 marks. I still remember the moment I saw the result; I was very happy. But it was not only me — my mother and father, my greatest supporters, were even happier than I was. They felt proud, and their eyes were filled with the light of hope that I would make my future bright.

Without losing even a single day, I began going to the university as soon as classes started. My heart was full of joy, and my mind was entirely focused on my studies. My time there passed with real delight; each day was a new opportunity to learn, to grow, and to get closer to my dreams. I studied with passion, spending long nights among books and notes. My goal was clear, and I was determined to achieve it.

But my journey was not limited to my own progress — I would also speak words of encouragement to my classmates. I told them to study, to keep their focus, and not to waste their time. It felt very good to me to motivate others as well.

Gradually, the first semester examinations drew near. I was very confident; I believed I had prepared well. In my mind I pictured high marks, and that I would once again make my family happy. But when the results were announced, my heart sank. The grades I received were much lower than I had expected — just enough to pass.

That night I cried more than at any other time. God is my witness that my tears did not stop. It felt as if all my effort had been carried away by water. My heart was broken, and for the first time I felt the true pain of disappointment.

Little by little another path appeared in my mind: perhaps I should leave the university and go abroad. I began staying at home instead of going to classes, and I made different excuses for not attending. My father would ask me about it every time, but I always offered one excuse after another. In the end, I told him the truth — I wanted to go to Europe.

This struck my father very heavily, and my mother was saddened as well. At first they opposed it, but after many discussions and arguments, my father gave in. He made great sacrifices, even to the point of sending me by illegal routes, in the hope that I would succeed abroad.

But fate was different. There, everything went contrary to what I had imagined. I faced difficulties, achieved nothing, and returned to Afghanistan. My father suffered financial losses, and I carried with me the heavy burden of regret.

When I returned home, I understood that I had no other path except to resume my education. I steeled my heart once again, overcame my shame and embarrassment, and restarted my studies at a private institution — Tabesh University. I told myself that even though I had fallen behind, I could rise again.

Then, just last week, something happened that revived all the old feelings. I saw my former classmates who had graduated from Kunar University, wearing their graduation gowns, their faces full of joyful smiles. My heart hurt intensely. Tears came to my eyes, and from shame I turned my face to the other side. I quietly said to myself, “If only I had listened to my father then, today I would also be wearing that gown, and I would have made my mother and father happy once again.”

In that very moment, I felt the true price of wasting time. I had fallen two years behind my goal. But the important point is this: I have not abandoned my goal. My dreams are still alive. I still see myself reaching them. I am still resolved to make my mother and father proud.

So if you are reading this, let my story be a lesson for you. Life will test you. You will face failures, disappointments, and moments when giving up appears easy. But remember — lost time is not the end of the road. As long as you have the courage to try again, you can reach your destination.

Reaching your goal is never too late. And one day, when I achieve my goal, I will look back and smile — knowing that I did not end my story in failure.