Pamela's Article 2: A Student Learning from a Painful Lesson in Ghana
Article #30 in the YCC Kids Club Ghana Student Life Stories Project
Understanding an Adult's Punishment
By Pamela Agbi, Age 14
This story is a story I will never ever forget in my life.
On the sixth of March, Ghana's Independence Day, Youth Creating Change organized an excursion to a huge celebration in Aburi Botanical Gardens, two hours from Sogakope.
All the students in YCC's Cross-Culture Class were organized to attend so that we could learn how to throw our own fundraising events for the educational exchange to the United Kingdom this August!
That day, on the sixth of March, 2010, all of us from Cross-Culture Class gathered very early at the YCC Guesthouse opposite the Global Evangelical Church, waiting for the bus. We were so excited! YCC's Director gathered us around. He said very solemnly, "We are ready to leave, BUT... not all and sundry will go."
"Oh no!" gasped one of my friends. The Director then took out his academic register, and began to read off for each of us which days of class we had missed, and which we had attended. Then, which homework assignments we had missed, and which we had completed. My heart turned cold.
I was the third person on the list, and the Director told me: "In eight days of Saturday class, you only came to five. Moreover, you did not do the most recent homework assignment."
"But I did do it!" I said. "I put it on a piece of paper and pasted it into a book I borrowed from a friend, and it must have fallen out!"
But the Director was firm in his decision. "I am teaching you not to be sloppy," he said. "It is better for you to learn this lesson now than in August as we set off to London."
So the students who were allowed go to Aburi were chosen. Their foods were parked in the bus, and they walked to their seats. Some of my friends standing at the road with me were crying. Many of our colleagues who were chosen to go were also crying, imagining how we must feel.
But I did not cry. Rather, I felt happy, because I have two proverbs that keep me on track:
1. We learn from mistakes. For example: Somebody will fall before you rise.
2. Something must be wrong before something will be correct. In other words, somebody must die before you live.
When the bus to Aburi drove off with the lucky students, we remaining few told Sir Oliver that he should give us books to do all the homework we owed, and we should not be allowed to leave before twelve noon. We asked Sir Oliver to provide food for us to eat, and he agreed.
This is my experience that I want to share with you, because I will benefit from it for the rest of my life.
Lillie's Note: Please leave Pamela a comment on her fascinating article! As a teacher, Pamela's story is particularly moving to read because it shows how much students learn from -- and in fact appreciate -- correction... whether or not they admit it. It also demonstrates the inspirational high standards of student behavior that I witnessed my whole three months in Ghana.
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!
Wow! This is amazing! It's really interesting about how she took a painful experience and didn't let it bring her down, but instead her experience pushed her to do better.
I think that it is amazing how this girl has taken a painful lesson and turned it into something that she will learn from to grow from. I find this truly inspiring to hear stories from people that are so different but yet the same.
I 100% agree with you Pamela. You must be a great student and it saddens my heart that you weren't able to go, but it is true you do learn from your mistakes. I hope you enjoy life and have another opportunity like this one. I wish you the best and hope you are doing well.
Hey Pamela!
I really loved this story! You are right people do learn from their mistakes!
This article really inspired me! She was really mature about the entire situation and i admire her for that. I also really like her morals. Now that she learned her lesson, she will be going on the next class trip!! Great article!
Reading this, I actually felt guilty. My parents do so much for me, and though I never match the amount of what they already give me, I ask for more. Thank you so much for writing this. You are a really great person to understand why you were punished. Good luck next year!
your so mature for your age... Those morals are great... and theres a lot more meanings to them...
but did you go the next time?!?!?!
This is a great article and I could connect to this because I have also been punished the same way before in the past.
great article
Man that must have been hard for you not to be able to go I would've been really really hurt
Thanks for your comment, Malaysia. Pamela will appreciate it! It occurs to me that you and Pamela would make great penpals. Let me know if you want a Facebook introduction!
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Pamela. You showed a great deal of maturity in taking responsibility for your actions rather than blaming your teachers.
Pamela,
Yes it was a painful message, but you will be rewarded with an even greater prize with the trip to London. Thank you for sharing your interesting story.
Kwabla - (Connecticut, USA)
Great story. You have a strong, clear heart. I hope you have many more stories to share!
Yes a great story, and a very mature reflection on a hard lesson. My favorite proverb is 'We reap what we sow' and in life it is so true.
I think a lot of kids in the UK could do with learning to take life's lessons with that level of maturity.
Thanks for sharing this with us
Great Article
and now so will i
Hi Pamela
Good that you took your disappointment positively, it takes strong character to admit your mistake and vow to learn from them. I like the proverbs you quoted and i wish you live by them for the rest of your life, they will do a great deal to your life.
Hi Pamela!
I liked reading your article, you seem to have a really mature attitude towards your teachers.
Hope you enjoy catching up on your work and your trip to London.
Neil, UK