We all have some moment or another in life which we sincerely wish had never occurred. There are those that aren’t so bad and we manage to build a bridge and get over them fairly quickly. Then there are the others which … well lets just say … are far more difficult to erase from memory, preferably those of other people.

I’ve had my share of embarrassing moments; however I find it easier to recall those ones which have occurred more recently. They’ve also all seemed to have happened mainly during school (probably because there were more people there to witness them).
One particularly funny moment took place near the end of Grade 8 when I walked into the wrong class for lessons. Each junior class had been allocated a specific classroom so as to minimise noise generated from traveling between classes for different lessons. Only the teachers would travel between classes for the time being as the seniors had started writing exams before we did. My classroom was on the third floor, yet one day, after break, I found myself rushing into the classroom positioned in the exact same spot as my own, just one floor below. It was hilarious! I walked briskly towards the back of the room where I normally sat, vaguely registering that the tables where in slightly different positions. When I got to the desk meant to be mine, I realised I didn’t recognise the books and stationery on it or the face sitting behind it. It then hit me that I didn’t recognise anybody in the classroom either. I must admit I was momentarily confused: anyone positive that they were right and every other person was wrong would be! When understanding finally dawned on me though, I was out of that class quick as a flash, leaving the sound of the learners’ uncontrollable laughter behind and carrying my giggles of embarrassment with me all the way to my own desk.

There have been other moments also in Grade 8, when it seemed I was quite eager to continue with school even though the school day had come to an end. My friends have never missed an opportunity to remind me about how I warned everyone not to dawdle and to hurry to our next (non-existent) history lesson. A pity they left me to walk all the way there alone only to find an empty classroom and, upon my return, an emptier school!

Oh! And I shouldn’t forget to mention a time in Grade 9, during history, when I quickly stuffed the last bite of chocolate brownie left over from break into my mouth, only to be asked for the answer to the next question we were marking.  Instead of chewing my little beauty in peace as I would have loved to, I was forced to do it speedily and in the presence of several beady eyes which had turned in my direction to enquire why I was taking so long to answer. My history teacher took great joy in asking me if I was done once she saw me swallow. Luckily she too found it as amusing as everyone else did and we laughed together for some time before getting back to work.

Everybody has done something they would much rather forget. But I say, “Remember them and laugh out loud!” Don’t stay embarrassed forever and don’t let those moments bring you down either. After all, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, a U.S. poet said it perfectly, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”