Aleena was a bright student. She loved her studies and going to school. She always worked hard and came first in the class.

Once Aleena was worried because the wedding of her cousin was taking place during the tests. In fact, the wedding was on the night before her English test, which meant that she had to give the test without getting the chance to study the night before — how can one study when you have to attend a family wedding? Aleena wanted to participate in each and every event of the wedding and thus she didn’t open her books all week.

During the wedding function, Aleena suddenly thought of her test and became worried. Her mind was totally blank, she couldn’t remember what topics were there in the syllabus, let alone what she had been taught. She panicked and wondered how she would be able to maintain her position if her marks fell. Then she had an idea.

She decided to skip school the next day so that she would be marked absent and not get poor marks by giving the test. She called up her classmate and discussed this with her and also told her to keep it to herself. Thus Aleena became relaxed and enjoyed the wedding ceremony.

When she went to school after that, her teacher asked the reason for being absent on the test day, she told him that she was sick. Her teacher expected the truth because he had already been told by the classmate Aleena had confided in that she was absent because of the wedding.

He was much disappointed and said, “Aleena, I expected truth from you, not a lie. We already know that you were busy with a family wedding!”

Aleena was embarrassed in front of the whole class and angry at her friend for not keeping her secret. When the class was over, the teacher called Aleena in the staffroom.

There, her teacher politely said, “I am disappointed Aleena, as you have shown a careless attitude. I didn’t expect this from such a good and intelligent student like you. My dear child, never tell lies as this is giving up without even trying.”

Aleena realised her mistake and apologised.

After some days, there was a speech competition in her school with another school and Aleena was also participating in it. She was so excited and did a lot of practice for her speech. Unfortunately, on the competition day, she was suffering badly from a sore throat and cough.

The competition started, students started giving out their speeches. Aleena was nervous as she thought, ‘Students are giving awesome speeches and my voice is hoarse and horrible. Everyone will laugh at me, I should tell the principal that I can’t do it, in fact, I am unable to do it.’

She got up and walked towards the principal but suddenly something struck her mind. “My dear child, never give up without trying first,” her teacher’s words rang in her mind.

She stopped and decided that she would never give up and will surely fulfil her commitment, come what may! Her name was called out. She went on the stage and started her speech. Her voice was rough and she coughed during her speech, which made many students mock her. She paid no heed and continued with confidence.

Amazingly, when the results announced, she had secured the third position! Although, her speech was not really great, the principal of another school praised her and said, “Aleena was ill and she could have refused to give the speech, but she didn’t give up. We are happy to see her confidence, despite being made fun of by others.”

Aleena was surprised because she didn’t expect such a great result. She really understood what her teacher meant when he said to her, “We should never give up and always try!”

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 4th, 2016