Undergraduate /
Embarrassing situation in the Exam Hall because of fear. 'A lesson from failure' essay [12]
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success.The old village school was a veritable bedlam shrieking children-commanding teachers and tapping rulers. You could see, children playing, and singing poems in unison.
"Why didn't you complete your homework?" came voice from the adjacent class. Boy replied in a meek voice, "Sorry Sir, I couldn't do it because I forgot". Teacher shouted in anger," How dare you not complete your homework?" .Teacher ordered, "Bent on your knees and stretch your hands straight". Boy started crying and mumbling, "Sorry Sir, I will do it today".
Despite the screams from the adjacent class, I was trying hard to concentrate on my book to prepare myself for the next one hour in the school. I could hear the boy crying, even though he was in the adjacent class, which forced me to concentrate on my Maths book, rather than roaming in a fantasy world.
The scene was set in a small Government School in a small village of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was a nightmare for any of the student to be punished for not completing homework, mischief. Teachers usually asked student to bent on their knees and stretch their hand straight. I was a studious boy because of the nightmares I saw during daytime in the school. I was even lucky as I had never been punished by my teachers.
I could hear and sense the 'tick-tock' sound of the clock, fantasising myself driving an Aeroplane and thinking of the next day's, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Examination. In the mist of my circumscribed thoughts around joy and happiness, I heard my teacher ordering us, "Complete all your homework or else you better know the result". All my senses came to life when I heard the bell. Children rushed out of their classes, shouting and howling their merry tunes of life, to their homes. I too, lost in my world of thoughts, wandering here and there, reached home, unaware of what awaited me their. I saw my headmaster sitting with my father. Firstly, the thought that struck me was, what have I done wrong? Thoughts started to cloud up in my mind, "What should I think of excuse?" if any problem arises. Then I realised that he came to talk to me of the next day's Entrance Examination of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. At that time, he not only changed my way of looking at education but also made me realise my potential. He made me to see education through new glasses. Earlier, I only perceived education out of fear, but he showed me it as a way to my dreams. He motivated me and guided me for the next day's examination.
Early in the morning, my mother gave me breakfast and blessed me to do my paper well. At an age of just 10, her beautiful smile was a blessing for me. My father took me to the examination centre and said to me, "Don't put your name down in front of your teachers". At that young age I couldn't understand what he said. I just said, "OK Papa" and smiled.
Finally, Invigilator arrived in the Exam Hall, a fat man with his hairs combed back and frightening eyes.
He announced in a heavy voice, "Whoever wants to go to washroom, he or she may leave just now. Or else I would not allow". I sat confidently on the fifth bench in the middle row scribbling down my roll number on my examination copy. It was a three hour examination and it was only three-fourth complete when I realised, I had to go to washroom. I couldn't control but I also feared the fat man, whose frightening eyes watched my every unusual step to control myself. I did lose my concentration from the paper, but I didn't ask him as I was afraid of him. Then I finally realised, I couldn't control anymore. I had no option left, but to give up. And when the paper finished, I was a laughing stock. Everyone stared at me as if I had done any crime, but what I could do. I was embarrassed, but my father said to me," No problem, it happens with everyone and you are only a child, but you did a mistake that you didn't ask your teacher for the permission". He didn't ask me of the exam as he knew, it would even disturb me more.
But that day I realised that fear was just an obstacle which you have to overcome to grow up or else you will perish down in this competing world. Later that year only I also realised that failures are always not too bad, as I did fail into JNV examination but I got a thousand times better opportunity to study in Vidyagyan and shape my future as I WANTED!
