Unforgettable Life Moments: Personal Stories & Lessons
A Frightening Historical Revelation
The most unsettling story I’ve ever encountered, through reading and videos, is known as “Elephant Crushing.” I learned about this practice when I was twelve or thirteen years old, and it profoundly shocked me, leaving an indelible mark on my memory.
One ordinary school day, I arrived home and began watching TV. To my surprise, while channel surfing, I heard the phrase “elephant crushing.” Immediately captivated, I started paying close attention to the documentary.
The Brutal History of Elephant Crushing
This method of execution was employed for over 4,000 years in various South Asian countries, particularly in India. It involved using elephants to crush and torture captives in public executions. These extreme practices were not only accepted by the society of that era but also served as a macabre tourist attraction. European travelers, drawn by these events, often arrived only to be horrified by the scenes they witnessed.
Suppression and Modern Parallels
After about thirty minutes of the documentary, I learned that this practice was eventually suppressed by the European empires that colonized the Asian region in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
This historical event made me reflect on the depths of human cruelty. It also led me to question whether similar extreme practices persist today. To my astonishment, I realized that practices as brutal as stoning are still present in societies across both developing and developed countries. This raises a critical question for me: Have we truly learned anything from the history of humanity? My definitive answer is no!
An Unexpected Birthday Turnaround
This memorable day unfolded on August 23, 2016, my birthday.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The evening before my birthday, we celebrated at an Italian restaurant renowned for its four-cheese pizza. Everything was going smoothly until dessert. As the waiter approached our table with my birthday cake, he tripped over a wire on the floor about a meter away, and the cake unfortunately collapsed onto my friend David. Consequently, I couldn’t blow out my birthday candles.
On my actual birthday, we were scheduled for a return holiday trip from Alicante to Santiago de Compostela. We woke up at 8:00 AM to clean and unplug all appliances, then took a bus to Alicante airport at 9:30 AM. With only 5 kilometers left to the airport, a bus wheel punctured, causing a half-hour delay. This meant we arrived at the airport just barely in time for takeoff.
As the plane was practically on the ground, preparing to land, we observed it rapidly ascending back into the sky. This occurred three times in a row. After the third attempt, the pilot announced that a safe landing was impossible due to poor visibility. We would be diverted to the nearest airport, which was Valladolid, from where our return journey would continue by bus, a five-hour trip.
A Memorable Surprise in the Sky
After landing at Valladolid airport, one of the most delightful surprises of my life occurred. All the passengers on the plane began singing “Happy Birthday” to me! Even better, I was allowed to visit the cockpit and speak briefly with the pilots about the incident. This gesture was a moment I will never forget, especially given my profound passion for the world of aviation!
A Life-Changing Football Victory
Many people may not fully grasp this story, while others will undoubtedly relate. Football, as widely known, is the most popular and anticipated sport in the vast majority of countries worldwide. This particular story unfolded on May 20, 2015.
Following Deportivo: A Fan’s Journey
My football team, of which I am a loyal supporter, is Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña. Throughout its history, the club has experienced periods of immense success, even becoming a league champion. Unfortunately for me, it has also spent significant time, and continues to compete, in the 2nd Spanish Football Division.
After 20 years as a club member, the season’s pivotal game arrived. A victory would secure our promotion to the First Division. For the first time in my life, I would witness my team compete in the top tier, enjoying matches against giants like Real Madrid or FC Barcelona.
The Promotion Miracle
The match kicked off at 7:00 PM and concluded at 8:45 PM. Early in the game, the worst fears of our fans seemed to materialize: in the 25th minute, the opposing team scored the first goal. Time ticked by, and we couldn’t find an equalizer.
However, in the final 10 minutes of the game, a miracle unfolded. In the 82nd minute, Alberto Quiles, my favorite player, scored our first goal. This ignited a renewed belief among all the fans that a second goal, securing promotion, was still possible. Then, in the 89th minute, a header by Adrián Lapeña, after rebounding off the goalpost, propelled the football team of my life back into Spain’s top football category!
My emotions were a profound mix of joy and relief, witnessing a historic team like ours achieve promotion. Given everything this promotion represented, it remains one of the happiest moments of my life.
My Biggest Academic Regret
Often, an open and outgoing personality can lead us to make mistakes, such as oversharing information.
A Competitive Student’s Downfall
This story took place when I was about fifteen or sixteen, during my school years. One defining characteristic of mine is an open and friendly demeanor towards everyone, yet I also consider myself highly competitive. I consistently achieved excellent grades and excelled as the top student in my class. This fueled my desire to always remain the best.
It all began at the start of 4th year of ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) when a new classmate, Alfredo, joined our class. Alfredo was notably shy and very cautious in his actions and words—essentially, the opposite of my personality.
As time progressed, I noticed Alfredo was a clear contender for the top student position, as he also earned very high grades. He initially seemed indifferent to achieving the best grade, never boasting if he did. However, as I got to know him better, I discovered the opposite was true.
The Cost of Trust
Once the third evaluation period began—the most crucial, as its grade held the most weight in the final score—Alfredo started employing various tactics to secure the best grades in class. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was about to make one of the mistakes I’ve regretted most in my life.
Alfredo began interacting more and more with other classmates, telling jokes, and so on. This behavior was highly uncharacteristic given his usual reserved personality.
Before one of the final exams, my friend David asked me about the most important points to study. I shared them without hesitation. My surprise came when the grades were published: Alfredo, who had never surpassed me before, now had, thanks to the final scores. When I spoke to David about it, he revealed that Alfredo had specifically asked him to inquire about the study points, knowing David had a strong friendship with me and that I would likely share the information. This revelation infuriated me, as my desire to be the best had been undermined. However, it also taught me a valuable lesson: you cannot always be good to everyone.