Dear Editor,
I have had a life experience in humility which I will never forget. I hope the account I am giving will be of help to the proud in power in all areas of life. Having gained a low mark in an applied mathematics test over thirty years ago at the University of Guyana, I was approached by the Dean of the Faculty of Education soon after the administration of the test to give reasons why I think I failed. He explained that students had been consistently failing the course and my contribution was therefore solicited. He further asked me to say what could be done to deal with poor performances.
I pointed out to the Dean that I was a student and I was not empowered to offer advice to him. He contended that he was certain that my suggestions for improved performance would be most valuable and I was the only student he was approaching. I complied with his request. I explained why I gained only 7 percent in the test and offered recommendations which were implemented fully within a week and led to acceptable final examination results.
From this Dean, with whom I later established further rapport on the ground of respect, I learnt a rare lesson in humility and I wish to God that more in authority can develop a spirit of humility like what he revealed in service to the nation.
Sincerely,
Krishna Nand Prasad
