Ambition gone wrong: The boy who tried to poison his way to first place

By Lilian Mann

The incident

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In a rural community where many teenagers do not prioritise education, one class stood out. Two students, a boy and a girl, consistently topped every examination. Their performance attracted the attention of a visitor who promised to sponsor the best student academically for the term.

That announcement changed the atmosphere in the class. Instead of studying harder, the boy decided that the safest way to remain first was to eliminate his competition.

The next morning, as he came to school, he brought a packed meal laced with poison and offered it to the girl, asking her to eat with him before lessons began.

The girl noticed something unusual about the food. “Why is the colour of this food like this?” she asked. “You eat first.”

The boy refused. His hesitation confirmed her suspicion. When the food was tested, it was discovered that it had been poisoned. His plan to remain first had failed.

As a result, he lost the sponsorship, his reputation, and the trust of his classmates and teachers.

The lesson: Why self-awareness matters more than first position

This incident is more than a story of attempted harm. It reveals a mindset that many students struggle with: the desire to win at all costs.

1. The absence of self-awareness

The boy never stopped to ask himself why he wanted to be first. Was it for personal growth, for pride, or out of fear of being second? Students who lack self-awareness often make decisions they later regret because they act from impulse rather than purpose.

2. A wrong definition of success

In Nigerian schools, being first in class is highly valued. But real success is not about defeating others. It is about improving on your past performance. When students focus only on beating their peers, they may sacrifice honesty, hard work, and integrity along the way.

3. Character outlives position

The girl lost nothing. She kept her life and her integrity. The boy kept his position for a short time, but lost his character permanently. In the long run, it is character, not examination scores, that opens doors for university admission, scholarships, and employment.

A message to Nigerian students

From WAEC to NECO to JAMB, the pressure to excel is real. But no grade is worth losing your integrity. Before you consider cheating, copying, or sabotaging a classmate, ask yourself: If no one ever finds out, would I still be proud of this action?

Self-awareness is the subject no one teaches in class, yet it determines how far you will go in life. Choose to compete with your past self, not with others. That is the path to lasting success.