My recent experience is really making me appreciate the kind of childhood I had and the people I encountered. So when I was in primary 5, I wanted to be the girls' school prefect, but I didn’t get the opportunity. I then decided to go after that dream when I get to junior high school.
I remember that day. It felt like my whole world had crashed. I cried so much and kept wishing it was a dream. But I also learned something. Before that time, I used to like occupying front seats in events. I didn’t even care whose seat it was for. I would just sit anywhere I wanted.
But one day, I sat at the front row during a forum, as I usually do. And then I was told to get up because it was for the girls' prefect. It was in front of the whole school too. And to be honest, I had no idea that the seat was for a prefect. As a matter of fact, a position I fought for but didn’t get.
It felt like I was being ridiculed and remembered my pain. In that moment when the whole school watched me get up from that seat to occupy a neglected seat at the back of the hall, I felt like the ground should swallow me up. It took me 2 weeks for me to show my face during lunchtime because I felt so embarrassed.
One particular day, one of the young teachers in the school asked if he could have a word with me, and I said yes. He then started telling me about how he’s seen that I like to sit in front at functions. He actually commended me for that habit and explained that it was good to sit in front at forums and all.
But then he also taught me something I would never forget. He explained that it was totally wrong to walk into a function and just take a seat at the front row when nobody has ushered you to that seat. Or you’ve not seen your name attached to that chair.
And to the public, it’s very proud of me to do that. Instead, it’s better I sit at the back or within the audience so that when I get called, I can elegantly walk to my seat. This is more like being humbled if you’re proud and being lifted if you’re humble.
When he said that, it made sense because I knew I had to learn how to be humble for what was ahead of me. And I’m glad I learned how to humble myself and learn so many things. Each time I look back, I’m always happy my path crossed with that teacher.
Images are mine