It was much faster to develop my strengths

Back in high school, I was always the one holding everyone back in a study group I formed with four close friends.

I was catastrophically bad at math, and even when we were all working on the same material, I was the only one who could never finish. I felt guilty asking my friends the same questions over and over again. I often wondered if I just didn't belong in that group.

The turning point came right before finals when someone suggested we try teaching each other. The friend who was good at math would teach it, and I would teach English. It was my first time teaching someone or answering questions in a way that was easy to understand, but the friend I taught told me, 'That was incredibly easy to follow.' It was the moment I first realized, through someone else's words, that I had a strength I hadn't been aware of myself.

From then on, the way we studied changed completely. We went from silently working on the same material to teaching each other our respective strengths. Even though it was the same group of people, we started seeing results as if we were a completely different team. I still stumbled with math sometimes, but the feeling of being left behind disappeared. In fact, I was asked more and more, 'Can you teach me English again?' It wasn't that my academic ability suddenly skyrocketed. I had simply stepped into a role where my strengths could shine.

This experience taught me that the concept of 'the right person for the right job' isn't just for companies or organizations; it applies to places like study groups, too. Someone who is 'holding others back' can become a 'reliable asset' the moment their role changes. This is often not because the person suddenly became smarter, but simply because the role they were filling wasn't a good fit.

Of course, I didn't run away from the math I was bad at. In fact, it was precisely because we all tried the same thing that my strengths and weaknesses became clear. If you try your best and the gap still won't close, it's not a lack of effort; it's simply a matter of compatibility between your strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has things they are good at and things they are bad at. That isn't about superiority or inferiority; it's just individual difference.

So, to anyone currently in a place where things aren't going well, I want to say: don't be so quick to conclude that you're 'not cut out for it.' If you've tried and it still doesn't click, it might just be that you haven't found your role yet. No matter how excellent a gear is, it won't fit into the wrong machine. Conversely, for every gear, there is always a machine somewhere that it fits perfectly.

There are different ways to grow: one is by overcoming weaknesses, and the other is by developing strengths. Starting with that study group, we chose the latter. Rather than everyone struggling to bring all subjects up to an average score, teaching each other our respective strengths led to results for the group as a whole much faster. Ultimately, finding the right person for the right job is about finding a role where you can maximize your own strengths.

The right person for the right job isn't about who is better or worse; it's about compatibility. It's not that you are no good; it's just that your role is different. Since I started thinking that way, I feel like I've become a little kinder to both myself and others.