Working Hard Isn’t Always Enough — And That’s Okay

After quitting my job, I thought I had it all figured out.

I had a plan: I saved money, covered a few months of rent, and created a roadmap to reach my goal, applying for a master’s degree. I had big dreams and clear intentions: study, grow, learn new skills. On paper, everything looked solid. But what no one tells you is how hard it is to stay faithful to your goals when reality doesn’t go as expected.

At first, having no job felt like freedom. I had time, finally. But I quickly realized that having time doesn’t mean using it well. The things I wanted to do, study, improve, and move forward didn’t always match what I did every day.

I’ve never been super organized. I tried to follow strict schedules — “At 9 a.m. I’ll do this, at 10 a.m. that…” — but it didn’t work for me. What works better is writing daily task lists. Simple goals I can check off. That way, I feel more productive. Some days go perfectly, some don’t, and that’s part of the process.

This life I have now feels good. But I’ve had to make sacrifices. I don’t spend on things I don’t need. I mostly eat at home. I don’t go out much. I prefer to rest and take care of myself, especially since I have English classes every morning from 7 to 9 a.m., which means waking up at 6. I’m used to early mornings. When I had a full-time job, I’d wake up even earlier to prepare breakfast, pack lunch, and on weekends, I have a defense class, so I wake up at 6 as well.

Back then, I was always doing something, and that helped me build the life I have now. I’m not working at the moment, but I’m okay financially, for now. Whether my decision to quit was “smart” or not, it brought me to this moment.

But not everything has gone as planned.

I’ve been taking English classes for a year now. Two hours a day, five days a week. A few weeks ago, I took the B2 level test at the university… and I failed.

I also recently applied to become a translator. Spanish is my native language, and I’ve been studying English seriously; I thought I could do it. But I failed that too.

I won’t lie — it hurts. It was hard to tell my friends. Some said, “How is that possible? I thought you spoke English already.” Others said, “The test must be wrong.” But deep down, I knew it wasn’t the test. What bothered me most was that they didn’t give me feedback. Still, I reflected on my own and realized: I need to learn more phrasal verbs, and maybe I don’t expose myself enough to English through music or movies.

Now I’m working on that. I’ve started doing more listening, watching shows, and reading more. I’m adjusting.

Because here’s the thing: on social media, we mostly see success, certificates, wins, shiny announcements. But we don’t see the failures. We don’t talk about the rejections. And we should. Failing doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It just means you’re learning.

In two months, I’ll take the B2 exam again. But this time with a new strategy. I’m learning that it’s not always about studying harder — sometimes it’s about studying smarter.

Right now, I’m working toward a C1 certificate in English. I’m learning Chinese. I’m taking AI courses. Even if I don’t get the scholarship, I believe these skills will help me grow professionally and personally.

So yes, I’ve failed. But I’ve also learned a lot. I’ve learned that fear, doubt, and uncertainty aren’t signs that you’re doing something wrong. They’re signs that you’re doing something real.

And that’s why I keep going.