Flora from Week 2 - Week 8

The most incredible things happening in Ghana - meeting over zoom.

*Below is the transcript from student Flora age 12 - her writing is flourishing as is her confidence.

FLORA — AUGUST 6, 2026

The Mistake I Always Remember

I am a very competitive child. I always wanted to be the best in everything I did. Whether it was schoolwork, games, or competitions, I always wanted to win.

One day, our teacher gave us a group project. We had to work together and present it in front of the class. My group members were me, Phyllis, and Hannah.

At first, everything was going well. We shared ideas and did the work together.

But as the presentation day was getting closer, I started worrying that our work was not good enough, and I decided to do it myself.

I thought that I could make it better than them.

I changed some of Hannah’s work and replaced it with my own. I changed some of Phyllis’s work because I thought her ideas were not better.

When presentation day came, we stood in front of the class.

Our project looked good, but something felt wrong.

After we finished, our teacher said, “Your work is good, but teamwork is not only about getting good results. It is about respecting everyone’s contribution.”

His words made me feel ashamed.

I realized that I only cared about winning.

After class, I apologized to them, and they forgave me.

From that day, I changed. I learned to listen to others and understand that everyone has something valuable to offer.

I still wanted to do my best, but I no longer believed I had to do everything alone.

The mistake I made taught me that success is not about being the best. It is also about working together and treating people with respect.

7 weeks LATER

FLORA — SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

Do Not Allow Fear to Hold You Back

One morning, our teacher announced that each pupil would stand in front of the class and speak about something they loved.

My heart began to race as I felt anxious about speaking in front of a large group of people.

I had always been comfortable talking with my friends, but speaking before the entire class seemed much more difficult. I worried that I might forget my words, make a mistake, or hear someone laugh at me.

When my time came, I stood up and walked to the front of the classroom.

My hands were shaking, my palms felt sweaty, and I nearly forgot what I wanted to say.

As I looked at my classmates, I felt tempted to return to my seat. For a moment, I stared at the floor and wished that the teacher would choose someone else.

Then I remembered my mother’s advice: fear can make you feel weak, but you must not allow it to control you.

I also remembered how she had encouraged me to practice my speech the night before.

It gave me a small amount of courage, and I decided that trying was better than giving up.

I took a deep breath and began speaking.

At first, my voice was quiet, and I spoke slowly. I told my classmates about my love for reading and experiments. I explained how I enjoy reading storybooks and doing experiments because doing experiments helps me understand how things work in my environment.

As I continued, I noticed that my classmates were listening carefully instead of judging me.

Gradually, I became more confident.

My hands stopped shaking, and my voice grew louder and clearer.

When I finished, my classmates applauded. The sound of their clapping filled the room, and a warm feeling spread through me.

My teacher smiled and praised me for being brave.

I felt relieved and proud because I had faced my fear instead of allowing it to defeat me.

I realized that the task had not been as frightening as I had imagined.

I returned to my seat with a broad smile.

That day, I learned an important lesson.

Although fear is natural, we should never allow it to prevent us from trying. Fear can make a challenge seem impossible, but taking one small step can help us become stronger.

Even if we do not succeed perfectly, we gain valuable experience by making an effort.

From that day forward, whenever I felt afraid, I reminded myself, “I can do it. I will not allow fear to stop me.”

I used this thought whenever I had to answer a difficult question in class.

Each time I faced my fear, I became a little more confident.

From my story, I learned that fear may arise, but courage enables us to overcome it.

Never allow fear to stop you from achieving your goals.