Lessons from My Father

Growing up, my childhood days were packed with lively experiences that shaped who I am today.

Recalling those days while discussing the importance of learning from mistakes with my own children, a familiar ritual from my school years surged into my memory. It was a routine that often bundled nervous anticipation with excitement.

After every class test, there was this one thing I knew I had to do: get my father’s signature on the answer paper. But it wasn't as simple as asking him to sign; there was a rule. I had to fix all the imperfect answers first. That was his way of making sure I understood where I went wrong.

Instead of feeling down, I saw this activity as a puzzle waiting to be solved. My father believed mistakes were lessons in disguise, and I was about to learn that firsthand.

Each mistake became a challenge as I sat down, determined to figure out why I got things wrong. I realized some were because I rushed, while others were because I misunderstood something from before.

I started seeing a pattern in how I made those mistakes.

Fixing those errors wasn't just about getting a signature. It was like peeking into my own brain.

I began to understand myself better.

Now, when I look back, I see how those signature sessions changed me. They taught me that making mistakes is okay. It's about what you learn from them that matters.