Advertisement
Advertisement
Ancient Greece
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more

What is your Achilles' heel?

Kobe Lee Wai-ling, 16, Fung Kai Liu Man Shek Tong Secondary School

My Achilles' heel is that I always hesitate before making decisions - and then regret them afterwards. Life is full of alternatives. We have to make a choice almost every step of the way. It can be as trivial as which set lunch to eat at a fast-food shop. On the other hand, it may be a matter of life and death.

I study economics and have learned that there are opportunity costs involved in making a decision. I hesitate because I want to enjoy the maximum benefit but pay the minimum price. People are born greedy, and I am no exception. I don't want to give up any one of the choices, because they all appeal to me. Sometimes, I end up losing everything because I have missed the right time to make the right decision.

In the end, I always regret the choice I have made. This makes decision-making a painful experience.

I have to learn to be decisive and make informed decisions within a short time.

Karen Allisa Napoles, 18, Delia Memorial School (Broadway)

Unlike Achilles, my weak point is not in any part of my body. My weakness is D.E.A.T.H. D stands for disappointment; I am most vulnerable when I feel someone is disappointed with me or I am disappointed with someone else. When I have failed to fulfil someone's great expectations, I feel I've let that person down. I will do anything I can think of to make it up to that person. I also hate being turned down by someone.

E is for exams. I have never had to spend so much time in the library. The one-day-before-exam revision doesn't work any more.

A is for apologising. I find it difficult to say sorry. My friends have taught me how to conquer this weakness. It takes practice.

T is for threats. Words can hurt me and make me feel inferior.

Lastly, H stands for hot weather. I'd rather freeze than sweat in the summer sun.

Janet Tam Ka-wing, 16, St Rose of Lima's College

Being emotional is my Achilles' heel. When I watch a tear-jerker, I am deeply touched, and my face is usually bathed in tears at the end. I feel like I have become one of the characters in the story and face the same situations. I watched Toy Story 3 five times and cried every time.

I cry when I feel surprised or ecstatic. It was my birthday a few weeks ago. Some of my friends sang a birthday song in a crowded, covered playground and gave me a home-made cake. I was so grateful for what they did to celebrate my birthday, I spent most of my lunch time in tears that day.

When we were babies, we cried all the time. Whenever we were hungry, we cried, and someone would give us milk. Whenever we were uncomfortable, we bawled, and someone would change our diaper. I feel as though I am still a child, expressing my emotions freely. I wouldn't want to keep my feelings bottled up. My friends say I wear my heart on my sleeve, so it is easy for others to read my mind.

Post