“Aliza,” Ms Mehwish called out her name. “I want to talk to you about something very important. Please see me after the school ends!” the teacher said as she left the class.

Aliza nodded her head in agreement, but she was panicking inside. Ms Mehwish had never wanted to talk to her about something ‘very important’ before?

‘Perhaps I have been late in submitting an assignment?’ she wondered.

Ahh ... yes, she had forgotten to do a project that was due last week. ‘Oh, I am in for a bad time,’ she grimaced.

Aliza met Ms Mehwish after school, her pulse rate high, butterflies in her stomach and ready for a big bad scolding. Ms Mehwish met her warmly and offered her a seat.

“Just think that you are the only one in the room, and by seriously thinking and believing in this, you can blur out the audience.”

“Aliza, I have been observing you closely for quite some time now and I discovered to my delight that you are not ‘ordinary’ like you think you are, instead you have a lot of potential and gut in here,” she pointed to Aliza’s heart.

A puzzled expression crossed Aliza’s face. Ms Mehwish smiled even more warmly. “I have had a lot of experience with students and never in my life have I been wrong in discovering the hidden talents of a student before.”

Aliza’s breathing returned to normal, for she was assured that no scolding for late submissions was on the way. However, she definitely was petrified at what was coming next.

“An intra-school debate competition is coming soon and I have chosen you as the candidate from grade seven,” the teacher continued. “Other students might think it unfair and prejudicial that I chose you without any audition, but knowing you, I am sure you are the best choice.”

Aliza’s heart sank. ‘Debate competition? No, no, no! How can I possibly face the whole school when I am even afraid of speaking in class? What if I fumbled? What if I forgot the speech? What if people made fun of me? What if ... no way!’ Aliza panicked at these thoughts.

She decided to tell Ms Mehwish that she was no ready for this task. Yes, saying this might disappoint Ms Mehwish, but she had no choice.

“Ms Mehwish?” Aliza muttered, her voice sounding meek and feeble. “I don’t think I can do this. You would have to give another student my chance,” she stood up to leave the room.

“Aliza, I haven’t finished yet,” she had a faint smile. “I know that you, like many others, are a victim of stage fright and the reason I chose you amongst all the others was also because I wanted you to overcome this stage fright of yours,” her smile became hopeful.

“Dear child, life is not a bed of roses. If we just sit and do nothing, life will become overwhelmingly difficult for us to endure. We have to stand up and try our best, take risks and believe in ourselves; otherwise we would be inviting disaster upon us,” she patted Aliza on the back.

“I want you to come out of your shell, to explore your potentials. I want you to leave your comfort zone and face challenges, head on,” she took a deep breath. “In the worst case, you will fail, perhaps forget your speech, or maybe fumble. But remember, this is all secondary. Failure is secondary. And failures lead you to success and once you attain success, there is no looking back,” she smiled again.

Aliza started to warm up to the idea of the debate. The teacher’s advice started making sense.

“When on stage, just think that you are the only one in the room, and by seriously thinking and believing in this, you can blur out the audience. I know this because I have experienced it for myself,” Ms Mehwish explained.

“All you have got to do is think that you are practicing in front of the bathroom mirror. Just put in all your emotions and expressions, and all your heartfelt feelings and you’ll be good to go,” she stood up.

“Only remember that putting in your best gives you a good and satisfying feeling. Winning or losing is not our aim and objective. If you are putting in your best, I would be more than happy for you,” Ms Mehwish assured her.

After a pause, she add, “And Aliza, remember to give me your project latest by tomorrow. I wouldn’t accept it after that.”

The day of the debate competition arrived. Aliza had prepared well and was rehearsing it repeatedly, and she had now memorised it without any flaws.

When her name was announced from the podium for her turn, her heart started to flutter and the adrenaline rush began. But despite her uncontrollable nervous state, she repeated all of Ms Mehwish’s advices in her mind and stepped up on the stage.

The auditorium was full. Aliza could feel nerves taking over her, but she held on firmly and magically she blocked out the judges and the audience from her mind. It was only her, and in the wide face of earth. She stepped up behind the podium, adjusted the mike and began her speech.

There was complete silence as everybody listened to her intently: to the coherence in her speech, to the emotions, the expressions, the ups and downs in her volume. But as soon as she finished, the crowd burst. There was a big round of applause. The audience had already decided the winner.

Blushing, Aliza climbed down the stage, tears flowing down her cheeks from emotion. She hugged Ms Mehwish. Aliza did not care who won now. She knew she had put in her best and the audience had appreciated her hard work.

When the results were announced, to nobody’s surprise, Aliza bagged the first place. With the shiny trophy glimmering in her hand, Aliza felt as if she was soaring in the sky, above the birds, above the clouds.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 24th, 2018