How I Outsmarted Chemistry Copy Checking in 8th Grade
Back in 8th grade, I faced a major dilemma: I hadn’t made my chemistry copy, and the pressure to get it checked by our very strict teacher was intense. Meanwhile, all my classmates had already filled their 40-page registers covering nine chapters, while I barely had rough notes in a scrap notebook.
For two sleepless nights, I was tense, also scared about what my father would say if he found out.
On the day of checking, the teacher began going through the copies one by one. It took ages to reach roll number 21, which was mine, and I breathed a sigh of relief when my turn seemed far off.
Suddenly, she asked everyone to submit their copies quickly, saying she’d check them later. That’s when my clever mind kicked in—I simply pretended to submit my copy with the crowd. After all, in algebra, we often “assume,” right?
So, I let the teacher deal with the missing copy.
Two days later, all the copies returned to the students—except mine, obviously. When I asked the teacher, she said she’d check in the staff room. The next day she said it must be at home and promised to bring it soon. This went on for five days, with me pestering her and her claiming she’d forgotten it at home.
Finally, one day, the teacher called me to the staff room and said, “Son, your copy is lost.” My heart sank. I said, “How will I rewrite all those chapters? How will I prepare for the exam now?”
The teacher smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Just make notes from chapter 10 onward. We’ll sort out the rest.” That felt like ice on a burning heart—relief like never before.
Though I couldn’t show my joy in front of her, the moment she left, I punched the air three times and loosened my tie with a triumphant “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The next day, she brought photocopies of all nine chapters—over 80 pages—and handed them to me with a smile, “If you don’t understand anything, come ask me anytime.”
That day, I truly realized the power of thinking smart and that sometimes, a little luck and wit can make even the toughest problems manageable.
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