Mistakes are part of our lives and there is nothing to be ashamed of when we make them, we are bound to make mistakes because realizing them, making amendments, and learning the lesson is what helps us get better.
We are all imperfect beings and I doubt if any human in the world will reach the stage of perfection because it is not our thing as humans to be perfect.
Some mistakes will make us feel ashamed which is okay because some lessons must be learned the hard way. What matters most is making sure that we learn the lessons and never allow such mistakes to repeat itself.
I was in the third year of my senior secondary school when I made a silly mistake that almost ruined my reputation in the school. Everyone respects me in the school and I always ensure that I remain in a decent position where both teachers and students placed me.
We were writing our mock examination which was the final test before taking the secondary school leaving examination when I heard my name from my classmate who was sitting next to me but on a separate chair.
The exam was held in the school's biggest hall and there were more than enough invigilators that day.
"George! George!", he whispered but I didn't answer and his next action made me freeze because I wasn't expecting it.
He threw a small booklet we do call key point to me and it landed on my lap. It was a summary of textbook and every subject had its own.
I was so mad but couldn't make a sound because he was my friend and as I was communicating with my eyes, a teacher walked in.
I didn't want to get caught so I gently sat on it.
"Samuel, step out of your seat", the teacher ordered as he walked in our direction.
My heart started pounding and if the teacher was looking at me, he would know there was something fishy.
"Where is it?", he asked and Samuel acted as if he was ignorant about what the teacher was saying.
The teacher continued, '' I saw you through the window, you are copying something just now. If you don't hand it over, you will be in trouble"
I was already shivering at that point even though he wasn't talking to me and Samuel was adamant about not having anything on him.
The teacher was convinced and was about to leave when he noticed that I was shivering.
"Is anything wrong, George", he asked and I put up a smiling face as I said no.
He told me to stand up and I did without thinking twice. He found the book and I didn't when I started weeping.
"I can explain sir, it doesn't belong to me", I tried telling the truth but he didn't even wait to hear it.
"Meet me in the principal's office", was the last thing he said before leaving and Samuel was begging me not to say anything as I left the hall.
"It wasn't me sir", I knelt immediately after I entered the principal's office.
"He found it on your seat and you are still denying it", the principal screamed in anger.
I explained what happened and he sent someone to fetch Samuel from the hall.
"Who took this into the exam hall", the principal asked as he pointed to the book on his table.
"I am the one, sir", he replied.
"I was telling the truth, sir", I tried showing my innocence and the principal almost slapped me.
Someone threw an implicating material at you in the exam hall and you kept quiet.
He sent me back to the hall and punished me later, I felt stupid. I didn't know what I was thinking to have kept quiet and that mistake made some of the teachers lose trust in me but I learned my lesson.
I almost fell victim to the same issue again while writing WAEC but this time, an external student was involved. The hall has big windows and it was easy for invigilators to catch anyone cheating from outside.
He tried saving himself but I will be foolish to allow such to happen again.
The experience made me to always be alert in an examination hall because there are people who don't know where you coming from in life and they just want to destroy everything you have labored for.
