Okon, the brightest student Nsukka high school has ever produced. There has never been any like him to ever grace the school in times past. He was one saddled with the responsibility of flying the school's flag to the zenith height of academic excellence.
You can say, he was too good to a fault and well advanced in knowledge more than his age. But despite his extraordinary academic ability, Okon has issues of his own. He claims to be better than everyone else and never accepts the fact that another person could be better him in anything. He never fails to remind his peers of his precocious gift any chance he gets.
" I am not just the best student in my class but in the entire school" he said boastfully while in the company of his peers on their way home from school
"Yes, we know. Till the day you meet your match" they replied sarcastically.
"I will crush the person when such day comes" he said with unflinching assurance.
"Ok ooo" they replied, mostly jokingly but still in awe of his confidence.
But this delusion of his was never to last long.
It all happened one term, the school was picked to participate in an interschool science competition. The competition was a renowned prestigious competition held in the country and any school that was picked to participate is seen as one of the best around.
The school basked in the euphoria of such great accomplishment and they couldn't wish for more greater thing like this. The grand prize is a beneficial one for both the winner and school of the winner; hundred thousand naira and a Macbook Pro to go with the cash, while the school gets a full funded facility development by the sponsors.
A lot was at stake and Okon's school expected nothing short of success from their prodigy.
The D-day arrived, Okon basking in confidence made his way down to the podium to join the other seven candidates.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the biggest science competition in the country!!!" hailed the moderator with all vigour.
The audience replied his greeting with a resounding applause, followed by cheers and shouts of joy mostly from the students that came to watch the stars of their respective schools.
"Today, we will see who goes home with the sum of hundred thousand naira with a Macbook Pro to go with it" exclaimed the moderator.
"It's not fifty thousand but hundred! thousand!! naira!!!" emphasised the moderator.
"The format of this competition goes this way, whoever among the eight candidates to make the most points after providing accurate answers to the questions is declared the winner" said the moderator.
The competition went on with a competitive tone to it. The candidates were battling it out, to see who comes out on top. Okon was amassing points with little or most times no effort, to the delight of his school management represented.
Now the competition progressed till it reached its climax, where the toughest of tough questions are asked to test the candidates resolve.
"This question goes to Master Okon of Nsukka high school" said one of the examiners.
Okon unwavering in his confidence was anticipating the question.
"Are you ready Master Okon?" asked the examiner with a tone of extreme seriousness.
"Yes. I am ready" said Okon with all boldness.
"Ok. Here it comes" said the examiner with his eyes focused entirely on the young man.
"What happen when a copper metal is placed in a solution of zinc tetraoxosulphate(iv)
a) Copper(iv) tetraoxosulphate (iv) is formed
b) Non reaction
c) Oxygen is evolved
d) Bubble of hydrogen gas appears on the surface of copper"
Okon gave it out a straight answer without even giving the question much thought.
"The answer is A" said Okon assuredly.
"Is that your final answer" asked the examiner.
"Yes." replied Okon, even more assuredly.
"Are you sure" asked the examiner
"Yes" replied Okon
"Did you give it a thought at all" asked the examiner
"I don't have to" replied Okon. "The question is easy." "My answer still stands."
"Ok" said the examiner.
"Your answer is wrong." "The correct answer is option B" said the examiner
This lead to outburst of tears among the students of his school. He has led them down on the grandest stage. Agony was written on the faces of the school authority.
Even after acquiring more points than any other candidate. The heavy points attached to the question meant that he slid down the order and a certain Chioma representing Urban girls school was declared the winner.
Slipups are meant to happen. There is a saying that anyone who hasn't experienced it have not lived. Most times we are the architect of our own failure, and as such should pay close attention to the way we live our lives and weigh the principles we adopt.