Have you ever felt like you've given your best...

[imyourangel]

...yet it was not enough? All the time, effort, and whatever you spent into it was not enough.

I'm just feeling down lately regarding my MA studies. I've been working so hard yet I'm getting measly grades (though it's passed) then may maririnig ako sa iba na naka-1, kahit hindi pumapasok, final exam lang ang pinasa. Parang bakit ganun, they can achieve these things easily, ng walang kahirap hirap.. but me, need pa ng extra extra effort. It's not that I'm GC (grade-conscious) but I really feel that sometimes, my efforts in life (in general) are wasted. Hindi ko na tuloy alam kung saan talaga ako magaling, saan talaga ako nageexcel. Nakakaflunk ng self-esteem.

[aquacharly]

Do not doubt yourself.
Do not compare yourself with others.
Doing the above will cause you unnecessary wear-and-tear.

Find and focus on what engages your Enthusiasm.
Therein lies  Life's  Winning Line. 

Did I ever feel I gave it my all and did not get what I justly deserved?
Oh yes.  But I have learned The Lesson.  Just be my Authentic Self, everything else later falls in place. 
If there are setbacks, see these as areas for improvement of Self/Character/Strength.  It gets to be okay in The End. If it's not okay, it isn't The End. 

[mooncake and leaves]

well, if you did pass, your efforts weren't that much of a waste, right?

it might seem as though some people are breezing through something but you don't really know that for sure. what you do know is what you actually did. did you really do enough? maybe look into that. the reality is that the world does not reward mere effort. it rewards people who deliver. if what you did wasn't enough, the logical thing to do is to do more.

[hisana]

Aquacharly and mooncake and leaves, so beautifully said. Great pieces of advice to put things in perspective.