It was a moment I will never forget. I was just seven years old and my confidence had gotten the best of me. However, I think if this had not happened to me I wouldn't have learned a simple lesson that I would keep with me for the rest of my life.

I was on my way to Frog Pond with my cousin Jillian. It was the middle of December and it was colder than an ice box outside. I couldn’t stop running my mouth about my new love for ice hockey. I had finally learned to skate and was ready to show off my new skills. “I am so good you’re not going to believe it,” I bragged. Jillian rolled her eyes with no response but that did not stop me. “ I will try not to embarrass you, Jillian,” I exclaimed. I showed Jillian my brand new black ice skates that I received for my  birthday and still got no response. I did not see why and, quite frankly I thought it was rude. “Stop ignoring me, Jillian. I bet you're just embarrassed that I can beat you in a race around the rink,” my mouth was running like a faucet. Still, I received no response, just an eye roll. The moment we pulled up to the frozen pond that had been transformed into an ice rink I felt a pang of nervousness. I immediately shook it off and my confidence was back like it had never been gone. 

The second we bought our tickets I ran to the nearest park bench and laced up my skates. I waited, not so patiently, for Jillian to get her skates on. I ran to the pond entrance with Jillian and jumped on the ice. Jillian was shaky, but she could hold her own. I, on the other hand, had made myself sound a lot better than I actually was. I was beginning to regret being so cocky but I remained confident and decided to challenge Jillian to a race. “Please, Jillian! Don’t be a scaredy-cat,” I pleaded.

“Fine but only if this will shut you up!” Jillian was agitated, to say the least, but somehow seven year old me did not see it. I called my aunt over to call go and we lined up. The second she said go I bolted forward without looking back. I was cruising and in that moment, I was on top of the world. Suddenly my edges gave out and I reached for the wall. Somehow, my hands completely missed the wall and I went flying backward. My head smashed against the ice and I began to sob hysterically. When I looked up I saw almost the entire crowded rink staring down at me. I was so humiliated, I wanted to dissapear. My head throbbed and  I could already feel a large welt forming. The next thing I know one of the rink workers was picking me up and bringing be inside. He handed me an ice pack and had me lie down. I looked over at Jillian and there was a sympathetic look on her face, but I knew on the inside she was smiling a little. I had finally shut up and this is what it took.

Looking back to this moment, I see that being arrogant and overconfident gets you nowhere in life. I can see why Jillian was so annoyed and I honestly can’t blame her. I now believe that being humble is one of the most important traits someone can have and nothing good can come from being overconfident. I have certainly learned a valuable but simple lesson that day that I will always carry with me and never forget.