Ahmed was in Grade Six. His work was always up to date and neat, his handwriting was good and he was often praised for these traits.

However, he was a timid boy. He never participated in competitions, had stage fright and feared failure. He believed that if he ever failed, people would laugh at him. This was why he always refused to participate in debates, elocutions and other projects.

His teachers tried to encourage him to participate, but Ahmed was too scared. He believed failure was something to be ashamed of. Despite having immense potential, Ahmed never took part in or showed interest in competitions. He had many ideas, but always felt nervous about expressing them. This fear, understandably, affected his confidence. Even when he knew the answer, he was afraid to say it aloud. He worried more about what others would think than about what he could learn.

One day, an inter-school science competition was announced. Students had to make a working model and explain it in front of the judges. Even though Ahmed had many ideas for the project and was sure he could make a good model, he refused to participate because he was afraid of making mistakes.

When his teacher tried to convince and motivate him, he shook his head and refused, thinking, “What if my model does not work and everyone starts laughing at me?”

That afternoon, when he reached home, he did not eat anything and was very worried. He really wanted to participate in the competition but was too afraid to do so. He could not decide what to do. He went to the terrace, where his grandfather was watering the plants. Ahmed often discussed all his problems and concerns with his grandfather, so he approached him.

“Dada, I want to discuss something with you,” Ahmed said.

Grandfather asked, “What is troubling you, my boy?”

Ahmed explained how he was scared of failing and how much he wanted to participate in the science competition. Grandfather listened to him seriously.

“Do you see these plants?” he said. “Some days they grow well, and some days they don’t. But do I stop watering them because they might not grow?”

“Failure is like that,” grandfather continued. “It teaches us how to grow better.”

Ahmed listened to his grandfather and thought about his own situation. The next day, when he went to school, he approached his teacher and asked her to enter his name for the competition.

The teacher was happy to see Ahmed finally taking part in a competition. Later that day, when Ahmed returned home, he immediately started working on the model. He spent the whole day making it and fixing problems. He still felt unsure of himself and doubted his abilities, but then he remembered his Dada’s words and finally completed the model.

The next day, Ahmed was still nervous. When it was his turn to present his model, he felt his hands shake, but he gathered all his courage and explained the project to the judges. He even talked about the mistakes he had made while making the model and how he had fixed them. The judges asked questions and Ahmed answered them confidently.

As he finished explaining his model, he realised that no one was laughing at him. Instead, he was applauded for having the courage to participate in the contest. For the first time, he felt proud of himself because he had taken part in it.

When the results were announced, Ahmed was neither first nor second; he was third. But he was not upset at all. When Ahmed reached home, the first thing he did was hug his grandfather.

“So, did you fail?” grandfather asked gently.

Ahmed smiled. “No, Dada. I came third but, most importantly, I learnt a lot and enjoyed myself.”

This was the first experience that gave Ahmed confidence in his abilities and taught him that it is not just about winning, but about the experience of participation. Nobody laughed at him, and even if people did laugh, he realised that it should never stop anyone from trying, making mistakes and learning from them.

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 29th, 2026