This is my response to WE88 weekend contest. You can also join the contest here
Option 3: Not Best Describe a situation where you did not apply your best endeavours and received a bad result because of it. What could you have done differently or better, why didn't you do right in the first place and, because of your failure to apply your best endeavours, what was the result. Bonus points for explaining what you'd do differently if given the chance.
Thank you 
Right from childhood, I've always loved to write and debate. I started representing my school in writing and debating competitions right from age 8. It made me popular in school and the teachers loved me because I usually write well and I also always emerge part of the top 3 in every debating competition. I continued like this till high school until one day when I messed up. Usually we held literary and debating week in school every month. Different classes had to present a representative or representatives who then face each other debating over a topic. A party speaks for while another speaks against. The debates are usually held on the assembly ground in the presence of all students and teachers.
This particular week however, the teachers in charge of the literary and debating week decided that junior students contest against senior students. I was a senior then and just like every other senior, I didn't like the idea. It felt like the teachers were trying to belittle the seniors by making us contest with our younger ones. I made up my mind that I will not be a part of the contest. However, the senior students kept running away from the challenge. The teachers threatened to punish us all of no one was forthcoming. Everyone was avoiding it because it was expected that seniors beat their juniors. So in a case where the opposite occurs it would cause a lot of embarrassment for the seniors. One may end up becoming a laughing stock as well. So no one wanted to take up the challenge. Everyone knew that I was a debater so, I was left with no other option than to contest. I contested alongside two others, since it was three contestant per group. Contesting turned out to be a very bad idea. A decision I regretted for a long time. I couldn't do well in the contest because I hadn't been interested in contesting and I had felt belittled being asked to contest against my juniors. Many of whom I had given tips on writing and debating. I didn't take the contest serious, this made me put in little efforts and on the day of the contest, with the assembly ground packed with students and teachers, I stuttered midway, forgot my points and only managed to ramble to the end. I'd never experienced such before during my years of experience as a debater. Although, I was able to finish up my session, I knew that I hadn't sounded convincing enough and my presentation had been flawed. To make matters worse my other partners whom we contested together, didn't do any better. In fact they did worse, one could only speak for a minute, she suddenly stopped midway, looked at everyone as if she was seeing them for the first time, and then she burst into uncontrollable lsughter. Seeing that she could not longer recall what she had to say, she continued laughing shamelessly and the whole school joined in the laughter. I was so annoyed and embarrassed. She was practically booed off the stage.
The junior students of course spoke with so much confidence and comportment. They had strong points which was well articulated by them. Each speaker sounded convincing enough , finishing up their points strongly. They got a lot of applause from the students and everyone listening. They of course won the contest and it was such an embarrassing day and moment for the senior students. Personally, I felt like a failure because of that event and I wished I could turn back the hands of time.
What will I have done better?
If I'd been given the opportunity all over again, I would have diligently researched on the topic given, practiced reciting my points offhand and also I could have practiced facing the crowd. Also, because it was a group assignment I could have carried my other partners along in my preparations and ensured that they knew their lines and points offhand as well. Instead of the solo thing we all did which caused us embarrassments and unexpected negative surprises.
Although this happened over a decade ago, I learnt a great lesson that day, to never take any contest or competition with levity and to always remember that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.
