When I was in Grade 8, I had a heated argument with my classmate, Tony. I have forgotten what the argument was about, but I have never forgotten the lesson I learned that day.
I believed that I was right and he was wrong, and Tony believed that I was wrong and he was right. Our teacher, a kind and smart lady, decided to teach us a lesson. She brought us to the front of the class and placed him on one side of her desk and me on the other. In the middle of her desk was a large and round object. I could clearly see that it was black. The teacher asked us what color the object was. " White," Tony answered. I couldn' t believe he said the object was white! " Clearly, it was black!" Another argument started between Tony and me, this time about the color of the object.
The teacher told me to go and stand where Tony was standing and told him to go and stand where I was standing. We changed places, and now she asked me what color the object was. I had to answer, " White." It was an object with two differently colored sides — from his side it was white, while from my side it was black. " Boys, now, what do you say?" The teacher smiled at us. Tony has been my best friend ever since.
My teacher taught me a very important lesson that day: When you disagree with others, you' d better be in their shoes. That will help you look at the situation through their eyes, and truly understand their ideas and ways of thinking.
