Speaking
Practice

An enjoyable event I experienced at school was our annual school festival when I was in Grade 9. It happened near the end of the school year, and each class had to prepare one activity or performance.

My class decided to perform a short English song and a simple dance. I was nervous at first because I had never performed on stage before. For about two weeks, we stayed after class for rehearsal, while one of our classmates helped organise the music and movements. The preparation was tiring, but it also brought the class closer together.

On the festival day, the school yard was full of food stalls, games and students wearing colourful clothes. When our turn came, I could hear my classmates cheering from the side of the stage. I made one small mistake at the beginning, but I quickly followed the others and continued. By the end, everyone was smiling and the audience clapped loudly. After the performance, we took a group photo and spent the rest of the afternoon visiting other classes' stalls.

I particularly remember the event because it was one of the first times I had done something outside my comfort zone. It became a lasting memory of friendship, teamwork and school life.

Someone who taught me something useful is my older sister. She taught me how to manage money better when I first started university, and that practical advice has been useful ever since.

At that time, I was receiving a small monthly allowance, but I often spent too much in the first half of the month. My sister noticed this and suggested that I set a budget. She showed me how to divide money into basic needs, transport, food, study costs and a small amount for entertainment.

She did not just explain the idea once. For the first month, she asked me to keep track of every daily expense in a simple note on my phone. At the end of each week, we looked at the list together. I was surprised to see how much money I was spending on small snacks and unnecessary online purchases. My sister helped me set a realistic weekly limit and suggested moving a little money into savings as soon as I received my allowance. After a few weeks, the system became much easier.

It was a useful lesson because it gave me a saving habit and made me more responsible. I still use a simple version of her method now, especially when I have several expenses in the same month.

The first day of school that I clearly remember was my first day of primary school. I was about six years old, and the school was only a short distance from my home.

My parents took me to the school gate early in the morning. Everything felt unfamiliar because the building was much bigger than my kindergarten. There were many children, teachers and parents around, and I remember holding my mother's hand because I felt nervous in the new environment.

When the bell rang, our class teacher asked us to line up and follow her into the classroom. I sat next to a boy I had never met before. At first, neither of us spoke very much. Then the teacher gave us coloured paper and asked us to draw our families. The boy borrowed one of my crayons, and we started talking. During the break, we played together, so I began to settle down and enjoy the day. By the time my mother returned in the afternoon, I was much more relaxed.

I still remember that day because it was my first real step into school life. The mixture of fear, curiosity and excitement created a vivid memory, even though many details from that age have disappeared.

A useful thing I once taught a relative was how to use online banking. I taught my mother because she had recently changed banks and wanted to manage simple payments on her phone.

She was comfortable using messaging apps, but banking applications made her nervous because money was involved. She was worried about pressing the wrong button or sending money to the wrong person. I decided to show her how to check her balance, transfer money and review transaction details safely.

I started with step-by-step instructions and asked her to do each action herself instead of watching me. First, we practised logging in and checking account information. Then I showed her how to enter an account number, check the recipient's name and confirm the amount before making a transfer. The first time, she asked me to check everything twice. A week later, she tried a small transfer while I was sitting nearby, and she completed it correctly without my help. That was the moment she really began to gain confidence.

I felt pleased because it was a practical skill that made her daily life easier. Teaching her also reminded me that being patient is important when something familiar to me is completely new to another person.

A time I taught something new to a younger person was when I helped my younger cousin learn to ride a bicycle. He was about eight years old at the time and had been asking his parents for help.

He already had a small bicycle, but he was afraid of falling and could not keep balance for more than a few seconds. I offered to teach him because I remembered having the same problem when I was young. We chose a quiet open area near his home and made sure he wore protective gear.

At first, I held the back of the seat while he practised pedalling slowly. I told him to look forward instead of staring at the front wheel. After several attempts, he became steadier, so I began holding the bicycle more lightly. Finally, I let go without telling him immediately. He rode for about twenty metres before realising I was no longer holding the bike. He stopped, turned around and looked completely surprised. After that, he wanted to practise regularly and improved very quickly.

I felt proud of him and also pleased that I had been able to help. The experience showed me that encouragement and simple instructions can make learning less frightening for a younger person.