Notice Board
I took part in a painting competition when I was in STD 6th. Every year, the school held a painting competition. This contest was open to all students. It was my first painting competition at this school. I was super excited about the painting competition this year. Every student had been looking forward to this day, and it had finally arrived. Students were assigned seats in the classroom, and several of my friends and I were made to sit on the terrace's stairwell.
To make the painting, everyone was handed white painting paper. After a while, I saw one of my friends, who was sitting downstairs, copying from the painting book. The cover page of that painting book was depicted with scenery that appeared to be rather lovely. My friend was cheating even in a painting competition, which startled me. As I started to draw the pictures, She handed me the painting book and said, "Take this book and start copying from this painting book; you will earn good grades." What truly happened was that I simply took that book and began copying it. I had no idea what had happened to me. In my school tests and painting competitions, I never cheated. Academically and in extracurricular activities, I was good. In my class, I was always in the first place.
As I began to imitate, Ma'am appeared out of nowhere, took my drawing paper, and tore it to shreds in front of all the students. Tears welled up in my eyes. I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't put it into words. I had never felt so humiliated in front of everyone in my life until now. I was furious with myself, thinking to myself, "How could I do this?" I was the top student in my class, and my instructors, principal, and parents all applauded me.
That day I came back to my home and didn’t tell anything to anyone at my home. I kept thinking for the whole day and night that why did I do this cheating? I was feeling very guilty thinking about this.
I was shocked the next day when I arrived at school and saw the Notice Board. On that bulletin board, there was a lovely painting. Do you want to know what painting it was?
That was my friend's artwork, which he completed entirely by copying from a painting book. When I saw the painting on the bulletin board, my eyes were wide open.
I haven't been able to forget that notice board until now. Even today, whenever I go to a school and my gaze falls on the notice board, I am reminded of that cheater's painting on the notice board.