It's really funny how sometimes the simplest and smallest things in life make us realize the most complicated truths of life. I believe it's nature's way of showing us that everything happens for a reason.
Most of you know am a teacher. I am proud of what I do because being a teacher gives me the opportunity to shape the lives of students in the best possible way while bringing out the best in them.
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I was to invigilate the West African Senior School Certificate Examination which was being held in my school. During invigilation, the teacher needs to go up and down the rows of students, making sure no student is involved in examination malpractice.
There were over two hundred students writing the exam. Although I wasn't the only invigilator in the hall, trust me when I say invigilation is one of the toughest thing any teacher could ever do.
The students were writing Mathematics that day, and we all know how important it is for these students to use their calculators in solving the math questions. However, having your calculator with its case was not allowed. They were to either place the case under their desk or leave it inside their school bag before coming into the hall.
It is presumed that students might have somehow hidden some notes inside the calculator case which will aid them in the examination. This is termed to be examination malpractice, and it's never allowed among students.
As I was going up and down the student's rows, I came to a student who had not removed his calculator from its case. I immediately told him to remove the case and put it under his desk, but he told me he can't do that.
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I then told him that he really needs to do that, but he still insisted that he can't, claiming that the calculator is attached to its case. He went ahead to show me the calculator. I took it, looked at it and indeed, the case cannot be detached because it was hinged to the calculator.
Even after seeing that the case cannot be detached, I still insisted he removes the case from the calculator. I felt dismayed and a little indignant. I then asked myself if the student did not read the rules? It was an important rule he shouldn't have missed. I felt the student's helplessness, but I still took the calculator and ripped the case off.
I immediately felt a hot wave rush over me... I had done what needed to be done! I felt righteous. Just some seconds later, another hot wave swept over me, this time it was of shame and horror. What have I done? I have just broken a student's calculator... and for what? What was I thinking? I immediately walked up to the student and apologized.
I have always assumed and believed that I was a good person, I guess I was wrong after that act I portrayed. I know am not a bad person either, maybe I am just average person... 😔
The fact remains that I was tested, and I gave in. Guess I was as susceptible to the evil that waits inside us just as anyone/everyone else. I vowed that very day never to let this happen again.
I was lucky I got away with that this time. There are others who face issues like this that finds it difficult to climb out. Guess I have learnt my lesson.
Anytime I find myself in a position of authority over another, I always remember this incident with the student. I am now more conscious of things and inclined to step back and look at things carefully before taking actions.
I often tell others this story, so they can learn from my mistake. This would make them desist from acting the same way I acted, so they won't find themselves in the same mess I found myself.
Thanks for reading. I hope you learnt something ...stay safe and remain blessed.