If I were to have super powers...

If I were to have super powers, what would it be? Would it be the ability to fly, or maybe to be invisible, or perhaps, just perhaps the ability to read the mind of others?

I have long been intrigued by stories of people who possess the ability to levitate, to make things move with their minds, to know what the others are thinking just by looking into their eyes, or to control the movements of others with a doll and a piece of the person's hair. All these, the Gypsies, voodoo, witchcraft may exist somewhere in this world, but I have yet to come across any of such things. These are some of the super powers that I would like to have, but the one power that I would want most is the power to read people's mind.

You are now entering the deeper side of my mind, the side which I have never revealed to anyone. not even my parents nor my sister. I have always wanted to read the minds of people around me, for many reasons.

As a student, naturally, I would always look for ways to gain better grades. In fact, I sometimes would hope for the easy way out. The more I think about it, the more I wish I can read the teachers' minds. This way, I'll be able the know what questions will be coming out for the exams. What's more, if I can read the minds of others, I'll read the minds of students who are good in school subjects. So I will not have to study for exams. I can just count on other people to study and I'll simply read their answers directly from their minds and use them as my own.

Besides cheating in examinations, my mind reading power can also be used to gain immense wealth. When people use their passwords to gain access to their money in their bank accounts, I can steal the passwords just by reading their minds and take the money. Or maybe, when people use their credit cards to buy stuff online, I can extract their credit card's PIN from their minds and use the PIN to buy things online, too. Then I won't need to pay for the things I bought. Instead, all my expenses will be borne by the credit card owner.

Another way in which I can use my super power is to cheat in gambling, especially in casinos like those in Genting Highlands, Las Vegas and such. Remember the movie "The King Of Gamblers" by Stephen Chow? Ever since watching this movie, I've always wondered what sould it be like if I can read my opponent's mind and know what are his cards and thus play my cards to win. I'll also be able to adjust my bets accordingly to maximize my gains and to minimize the risk of losing my money.

Furthermore, if I have the power to read minds, the person whose mind I would really like to read is the boy whom I admire. Laugh all you want at this silly idea of mine, but I believe if you have this power, you will also do the same thing as I, whether you are a girl or a boy. I've constantly wondered what he is thinking, whether or not he realise that I exist, what he likes and so forth. If I know his favourites, his dislikes, his wants, his needs, then I'll be able to know my way to his heart and do things that pleases him.

These are some of the naughty things that I would like to do...if only I have the power to read people's mind. I guess after you read all these, you will definitely feel thankful that I am unable to read your mind. Otherwise, you can just imagine the things, the information that I'll be able to extricate from you. Right now, only you yourself know what you are thinking. So, you can just put your mind to rest.

Ideas by Nyon Yan Zheng
Written by Nyon Yan Ru
For an essay competition in Johor Matriculation College