I was six pages deep into notes, heart pounding so loudly I could barely think. Finals week had me convinced I’d freeze on the first question. Then I remembered the little green dinosaur peeking from my pocket. I pressed his soft belly. In that instant, my shoulders relaxed, my breath steadied and I realised I could take this one step at a time.

If you’re totally convinced you’ll fail, you’ll struggle to succeed. But if you believe you’ll succeed, you’ll stand a much better chance.

A few hours later, sitting at my desk in the exam hall, I glanced down at Dino and smiled. I scribbled answers steadily, trusting that progress—even slow—adds up. When I handed in my paper, I felt proud not because it was perfect, but because I faced my fear one small step at a time.