I was selected to represent my school in the national debate
series, and I was confident in my abilities. My team had a smooth run-up to
the finals, and I was named the best speaker in each round. My confidence
reached an all-time high. I began to get arrogant, missing practices and
ridiculing my teammates' performance. I saw myself as the natural debater
who would be let down by their bad performance.
On the day of the finals, I was excited to show off my debating prowess.
However, my absence from practices created a rift between my teammates and
me, and our coordination was terrible. When it was my turn to speak, I was
hesitant and realised too late that what I was saying was incoherent. The
judges looked puzzled, and I broke down in tears, realising my stupidity and
arrogance. I had cost my team the title.
My teammates comforted me, even though I had insulted them, and our teacher
forgave me. We went up as a team to receive the first runner-up trophy, and
I learned the humbling lesson that no man is an island by himself. I
eventually won the title with the same team the following year.
This experience taught me to be humble and to value teamwork. Overconfidence
and arrogance only lead to defeat, and it is essential to recognise that we
cannot succeed alone. I will never forget the trauma of defeat fashioned by
my own hands or the sheer joy of knowing that I had support in my lowest
moment. |