A Mistake I Learned from "Thank You M'am" by Langston Hughes

Making mistakes is an inevitable part of life. We are not perfect, and neither is this world. It is normal to make mistakes in life, but we often find ourselves regretting them. This is something I experienced personally with my father. However, it's important to remember that we always learn from our mistakes, evolving into more mature adults as a result. In Langston Hughes’ story "Thank You M'am," Roger learned from his mistake when he attempted to steal someone else's property. In my own life, I have also erred by stealing, but I learned from that mistake and resolved never to do it again. Roger realized that he should never steal and should always either ask for what he needs or work hard to earn it. When Roger tried to steal Mrs. Jones' pocketbook, he failed, leading to a confrontation with Mrs. Jones. Instead of punishing him, she took Roger home to help him clean up and asked him why he would attempt to steal her pocketbook. He explained that he didn’t have any money and wanted to buy blue suede shoes. This poor choice could have led him to prison or jail, but fortunately, Roger learned his lesson about distinguishing right from wrong (Hughes, 1958).

The Personal Connection to Mistakes

In my own life, I learned the importance of maintaining relationships through my own mistake—losing my connection with my father after he recently left my mother. I deeply regret this mistake. I learned that it is crucial never to lose someone as close as a parent. My mistake was neglecting to communicate with him or even say, "I love you." When he left, my heart was broken because I didn’t know how to cope without a father figure. This experience taught me the valuable lesson of cherishing those you truly love, as they may not always be there. Both Roger and I learned the hard way that mistakes can have lasting consequences, and they often leave us with regret. Unlike Roger, my mistake was not an attempt to steal; rather, it was the loss of a vital relationship. However, both experiences have shown us the importance of learning from our errors. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to reflect on our past actions, acknowledge our mistakes, and resolve not to repeat them. This ability to learn from the past is essential for personal growth and self-improvement (Hughes, 1958).

References

Hughes, L. (1958). Thank You M'am. In The Best Short Stories by Negro Writers: An Anthology from 1899 to the Present (pp. 256-259). Boston: Little, Brown.