When I was in Grade Four, I was asked by my teacher to join an on-the-spot essay writing contest. Although I didn’t have an inkling on what an “essay” was, I agreed anyway, figuring that I could just ask my Dad what it meant later. Unfortunately, I found out that my Dad was on a business trip and wouldn’t be home for several days. So instead I asked my Mom what an essay meant. She tried to explain it to me, but I couldn’t quite understand what she meant. Exasperated, she just pointed out to me an essay in one of the English textbooks we used in school. The title of the essay was “The Banana Tree.” Stupidly, I thought that the essay was “THE” essay I was supposed to write. I failed to mention to my Mom that the contest was “on-the-spot,” meaning, the theme or topic was to be given right then and there.
Long story short: I memorized the entire essay, and wrote it from memory during the essay contest, word for word. I could imagine how the judges must have laughed their hearts out when they read my essay. If I remember correctly, the topic of the contest was something on health (as it was supposedly during the celebration of Health Week or Month). I was so embarrassed.
Thus began my induction into the world of writing.