Start with a Sound Beep! The referee blew the whistle, and an exhilarating basketball match commenced to deafening cheers from the crowd. My heart was pounding like the rhythmic gong of a grandfather clock. My teammates and I were representing our school in the semi-finals against Innova Primary School. If we beat them, we would advance to the finals! However, little did I expect that I would make a costly mistake.

Start with Dialogue “Just what I’ve always wanted!” I shrieked excitedly, enveloping my mum in a tight embrace. I feasted my eyes on the latest edition of the iPad, its sleek features tugging at my heartstrings. Having this would surely make all my friends green with envy! Unfortunately, my joy was short-lived because I soon did something foolish — and paid a heavy price.

Start with a Question Have you ever committed a grave mistake and paid a heavy price for it? I was once the victim of my folly, and the lesson I learnt that day will forever be etched in my mind. It was undeniably an expensive lesson.

Start with a Quotation/Proverb Pride comes before a fall. Never have I appreciated the profound wisdom of this saying until I fractured my arm recently. I not only suffered excruciating pain, but also, missed out on a much-awaited opportunity. My pride caused me to incur an uninvited costly lesson.

Start with a Flashback “How can you forget?!” my mother chided my aunt sternly, her arms akimbo. I quivered nervously, wondering if their squabble would escalate into a full-blown argument. After all, this had happened before. My mind flashed back to the time when they had bickered fiercely with each other over a costly mistake my aunt had made.