Robbie Williams once confessed that he pooped in his pants on stage. By mistake. No one is immune. We've all had at least one awkward or embarrassing moment in life. Some of us are just more willing to admit it than others.
Maybe it was a small 'oops' that left you red-faced, or perhaps a much bigger incident that's followed you all the way to adulthood, and blessed you with a nickname.
Chances are high that it happened at school. Let's be honest, there's something about that type of setting, full of puberty-fuelled teenagers, that breeds peak embarrassment. It's like cringe could have been built into the curriculum.
People have been brave enough to share their most painfully awkward school moments. And many might leave you feeling a bit better about your own. From stories of explosive diarrhea, to peeing on the floor in class, or calling the teacher 'mom' by mistake, Bored Panda has dug up a list of the best.
Prepare to laugh, cry, cringe, or maybe even relive your own high school horrors, as you scroll through them. These tales are proof that growing up isn't easy, and often involves getting a few scars on our dignity.
#1
My sophomore year I was performing in a Shakespearian Monologue competition that was being held at a college near my high school. We got to the theater and we had a bit of time outside to rehearse, mingle, etc. and I snuck off on my own to get a little rehearsal time in without the other competitors seeing what I was doing.
I went behind a building and began practicing my monologue (Iago's "What's he then that says I play the villain?" speech from Othello). While i was practicing, I saw a window with a reflective surface. It was a sunday and the campus was pretty barren, so i decided to use it so I could see what I looked like while performing. For those of you that don't know, this speech is a particularly heinous speech in which Iago reveals his plot to turn Othello against his wife (which ultimately leads to her murder). I made sure to find my most villainous voice and my the most wretched faces I could to be believable. Once I had finished and was satisfied with my work, I turned to walk away.
I heard a large applause coming from inside the window as I left.
TL;DR I accidentally performed Shakespeare for a random college class
And yes I did win.
CONTEXT OF SPEECH: Othello is a commanding officer, Iago is also another officer and Othello's right hand man, and Desdemona is Othello's wife. Cassio is another, lower ranking soldier who is on Othello's s**t list right now because he got super drunk and started a fight at an important dinner the other night. So, wanting to repair his reputation, Cassio comes to "honest Iago", Othello's most trusted friend, and asks for help. Iago tells him to explain the situation to Desdemona because the only person Othello will listen to is his wife (which is true). In this speech, Iago reveals that he's not actually "honest" like everyone says he is, and what he actually plans to do is tell Othello that he think Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair so that when Desdemona approaches Othello about forgiving Cassio, he will get super suspicious and angry (and Othello has a terrible f*****g temper, perhaps his biggest weakness).
I went behind a building and began practicing my monologue (Iago's "What's he then that says I play the villain?" speech from Othello). While i was practicing, I saw a window with a reflective surface. It was a sunday and the campus was pretty barren, so i decided to use it so I could see what I looked like while performing. For those of you that don't know, this speech is a particularly heinous speech in which Iago reveals his plot to turn Othello against his wife (which ultimately leads to her murder). I made sure to find my most villainous voice and my the most wretched faces I could to be believable. Once I had finished and was satisfied with my work, I turned to walk away.
I heard a large applause coming from inside the window as I left.
TL;DR I accidentally performed Shakespeare for a random college class
And yes I did win.
CONTEXT OF SPEECH: Othello is a commanding officer, Iago is also another officer and Othello's right hand man, and Desdemona is Othello's wife. Cassio is another, lower ranking soldier who is on Othello's s**t list right now because he got super drunk and started a fight at an important dinner the other night. So, wanting to repair his reputation, Cassio comes to "honest Iago", Othello's most trusted friend, and asks for help. Iago tells him to explain the situation to Desdemona because the only person Othello will listen to is his wife (which is true). In this speech, Iago reveals that he's not actually "honest" like everyone says he is, and what he actually plans to do is tell Othello that he think Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair so that when Desdemona approaches Othello about forgiving Cassio, he will get super suspicious and angry (and Othello has a terrible f*****g temper, perhaps his biggest weakness).
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28points
Your cheeks turn red, your palms start sweating. You just want to crawl into a hold and be gone. Embarrassment. It happens to all of us at one point or the other. And for some, it happens a lot.
Embarrassment is an emotion characterized by feelings of self-consciousness, shame, or discomfort, explains online mental healthcare site Charlie Health. "It typically arises when a person thinks they have made a mistake or violated social norms in a way that may negatively impact how others perceive them," reads the site.
So how should you handle your most horrifyingly cringe moments? Scroll on to find out...
#2
Math teacher didn't allowed me to go to the toilet, couldn't hold it anymore, pissed on the floor trough my pants. At least she'll always allow students to go to the toilet now.
22points
#3
In first grade I had to sit down to take a spelling test and I was kind of thirsty. I went to the water fountain and, with first grade logic, filled my cheeks with water thinking that I could savor it for the whole test. I figured that I could swallow little sips of water throughout the test and be nice and hydrated throughout.
This plan backfired when about five minutes passed and my cheeks gave way, leading me to spit all of the water straight onto my desk and test. So now theres water everywhere and my test is ruined and my teacher walks over and says "why is your desk all wet?"
My only response was "I don't know." No one asked me any more questions after that.
This plan backfired when about five minutes passed and my cheeks gave way, leading me to spit all of the water straight onto my desk and test. So now theres water everywhere and my test is ruined and my teacher walks over and says "why is your desk all wet?"
My only response was "I don't know." No one asked me any more questions after that.
21points
One of the best ways to deal with embarrassment is to just move on. Don't let it bother you. It's easier said than done and don't we know it! But according to parenting blog iMom.com, grown-ups can teach their kids to handle awkward moments better by the way they react to their own cringeworthy blunders.
"Avoid making any self-deprecating statements when something embarrassing happens to you like 'I’m so careless!' or 'Wow, I can’t believe I did that.' Acknowledge it if you want—'That was embarrassing!'—and don’t dwell," advises the site.
Keep calm and carry on, say the experts over at Charlie Health. They believe that when faced with a moment of embarrassment, taking a deep breath can help regulate your emotions and prevent them from spiraling out of control. "By pausing and focusing on your breath, you create a moment of mindfulness that allows you to step back from the situation and gain perspective," they explain.
#4
When I was in middle school I ran for student body Vice President. I wasn't ambitious enough to run for President, I figured the Vice President would be easy and they wouldn't have to do much, and I was probably right. Anyway, right before people voted all the candidates had to make a speech in front of the student body. In my mind, I had a great angle for my speech: all the people running for President were girls, my opponent was a girl, and I felt that the student body should be represented by members of both sexes in the interest of equality.
Of course, more than twenty years later I can phrase it like that, but my eleven or twelve year old self stood up and concluded that "when boys and girls get together, good things happen."
That s**t followed me into *college* halfway across the country. I bumped into a freshman who had gone to my middle school and she remembered my speech.
Of course, more than twenty years later I can phrase it like that, but my eleven or twelve year old self stood up and concluded that "when boys and girls get together, good things happen."
That s**t followed me into *college* halfway across the country. I bumped into a freshman who had gone to my middle school and she remembered my speech.
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20points
#5
6th grade, it was pi day, so we all had to say pi as far as we could go. I was extremely nervous because I felt I was going to mess up near the start. The girl who wen before me only made it to 3.141, and I though to myself "even I can do better then that" in an attempt to calm myself down. Turns out I said it out loud, the whole class heard me, and I made the girl cry. Worst feeling I've ever had in all my years of school :(.
20points
#6
Calling the teacher mom by accident was easily the most awkward. All the other kids look at you like you just s**t yourself, meanwhile the teacher is at a loss of words.
19points
Another way to help your kids handle embarrassment is to be relatable. Show them that embarrassing sh*t happens to all of us. And it's not the end of the world.
"You might also want to share an embarrassing moment of your own and how you handled it," suggests iMom.com.
Also beware that your criticism of your kids can turn into a fear of embarrassment for them. So the experts advise that you downplay their mistakes.
#7
Sixth grade. I had a crush on this girl. It was my first crush. She was a cheerleader, cute, smart, funny. I was in love. Sadly it was not reciprocated. I used to write her love letters and slip them into her locker.
One day this kid (Who was pretty much my nemesis since elementary school,) saw me put the note in and after i walked away, he fished it out with a paper clip. Later he proceeded to read it to most of the sixth grade class before an assembly. I was absolutely humiliated. For about two days, till everyone forgot about it.
That's also the story of how I got into my first fight.
EDIT: For everyone interested, I did win the fight.
One day this kid (Who was pretty much my nemesis since elementary school,) saw me put the note in and after i walked away, he fished it out with a paper clip. Later he proceeded to read it to most of the sixth grade class before an assembly. I was absolutely humiliated. For about two days, till everyone forgot about it.
That's also the story of how I got into my first fight.
EDIT: For everyone interested, I did win the fight.
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19points
#8
Had to poop SUPER bad as soon as I left for recess after lunch I try to go back in and the doors are locked I couldn't run around by that time I'd poop my pants, no one else was out by then so I pooped in the garbage can and ran to where we usually hang out.
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18points
#9
Sophomore year of high school. Asking a girl out and while I was talking to her my tongue must have moved just the right way and drops of saliva shot out and hit her in the face. (I believe this is called gleeking).
Awkward silence ensued followed by no first date... Yay awkward me!
Awkward silence ensued followed by no first date... Yay awkward me!
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18points
“Helping your child gain perspective without minimizing his feelings will make it easier for him to move past negative experiences—and give him an important tool for building self-awareness in the future,” adds the Child Mind Institute.
Perhaps one of the best tips lies in an old saying... This too shall pass. If we can remember, and believe that, even in the most awkward and embarrassing moments, we'll all be just fine. Maybe we'll even be laughing about it in days, or years to come.
#10
At a swim meet, my friend had just won his race and he broke his personal record. 15-20 minutes after his race, I saw him from the back and walked over. I then hugged him from behind and squealed about how well he did. I remember wondering why he was talking to people from the other school. I let go and he turned around.
It wasn't him.
I stammered something about how I thought he was someone else and walked away in shame.
It wasn't him.
I stammered something about how I thought he was someone else and walked away in shame.
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18points
#11
I have Zombie Cafe on my iPod, and I happened to have my iPod in class with me. In the middle of a lecture my iPod decided to notify me that my "Handburgers & Flies" had finished cooking. Now, the notification is really loud, whether you have your ipod totally silent or not. So, basically the entire class heard ...
Teacher: blah blah blah history.. blah blah... *moment of silence* ...
My iPod: BBBBRRRAAAAIIINNNNSSSSSSSS...
The whole class burst into laughter and I will never forget the look my teacher gave me. I just wanted to sink into the ground I was SO embarrassed!
Teacher: blah blah blah history.. blah blah... *moment of silence* ...
My iPod: BBBBRRRAAAAIIINNNNSSSSSSSS...
The whole class burst into laughter and I will never forget the look my teacher gave me. I just wanted to sink into the ground I was SO embarrassed!
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18points
#12
While sitting in psychology one day, I watched a cockroach crawl out of a girl's pants onto the floor. The roach proceeded to crawl around for what seemed like a minute, probably much less, before crawling back up the leg of the girl's pants. I looked up in wide-eyed terror, only to lock eyes with the teacher, who shared my expression.
To those asking, I had no idea how to even begin a conversation about what I had seen. That's what made it awkward. I couldn't just walk up to the girl, and say, "I saw your roach, if you know what I mean." I couldn't even approach the subject with anybody else without ruining this girl's life. All I could do was always keep my feet off the floor in that class.
To those asking, I had no idea how to even begin a conversation about what I had seen. That's what made it awkward. I couldn't just walk up to the girl, and say, "I saw your roach, if you know what I mean." I couldn't even approach the subject with anybody else without ruining this girl's life. All I could do was always keep my feet off the floor in that class.
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17points
#13
In college. I am a little forgetful and don't remember people in a large classroom unless I engage with them. So one day I am late to class and frazzled and I walk in and don't recognize anyone and say I think I'm in the wrong classroom. My class laughs and says no you're not just sit down.
I was quite embarrassed.
I was quite embarrassed.
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17points
#14
I fell asleep at my desk during a really serious lecture. I had one of those really severe sleep twitches and woke up spazzing so hard I flung everything on my desk off and *screamed* at the top of my voice. Awkwardness ensued.
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17points
#15
The really shy girl in my class puked so quietly, people didn't notice until the smell filled the room. :(.
17points
#16
My physics teacher one day got a call early in the morning. The call only lasted for like 10 seconds, but when it ended, she ran out of the class all crying and never came back. A couple weeks later we were learning Newtons first law. For those who don't know it states: an object will keep moving until a force stops it. As an example our physics teacher used this: "imagine your aunt will be driving a car at 100 km/h. At one point she will hit a tree. Even though the car will immediately stop, your aunt will still go flying into the tree at 100 km/h. Once your aunt will hit the tree, not only her motion will stop, but so will her life...".
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16points
#17
When I was 6 in Senior Infants, my teacher asked me and a classmate to take a message to 3rd class, which was my older brother's class. I was so excited to be doing this (A) because bringing messages to other classes was fun and (B) because I'd be going to my brother's class.
So we set off for the classroom. Just as we knock, we realise neither of us remember what the message is. Panic kicks in as the teacher (a very sarcastic, Roald Dahl/John Cleese kind of man) lets us in. I stand there at the top of the class silently. The teacher impatiently asks me what it is I had to say and all I can say is "I forgot." in a lisp with my hand covering my face (doubly embarrassing because this was an Irish-language primary school and I should've been speaking as Gaeilge).
For years after that, all of my brother's classmates would say "Ah hogohhh" (what my shy "I forgot" apparently sounded like) whenever they saw me. Also, it turned out the message was that my brother was absent that day.
So we set off for the classroom. Just as we knock, we realise neither of us remember what the message is. Panic kicks in as the teacher (a very sarcastic, Roald Dahl/John Cleese kind of man) lets us in. I stand there at the top of the class silently. The teacher impatiently asks me what it is I had to say and all I can say is "I forgot." in a lisp with my hand covering my face (doubly embarrassing because this was an Irish-language primary school and I should've been speaking as Gaeilge).
For years after that, all of my brother's classmates would say "Ah hogohhh" (what my shy "I forgot" apparently sounded like) whenever they saw me. Also, it turned out the message was that my brother was absent that day.
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16points
#18
Before I begin I just want to state that I have shared this on reddit before and it was the most awkward situation I was ever a part of during high school.
I was heading to my locker during my spare block after lunch to grab a Pop-Tart out of my locker when I see this girl from another high school in the hallway. She used to go to our school but she got expelled for showing up to class drunk. Anyways I see her in the hall way and I walk up to her to say hey. Before I can even utter a word she runs right at me and jumps on me giving me a massive bear hug. As she's hugging me I can smell the Whiskey on her breath. She let's go of me and I ask her what she's doing here and she said she was here to see a substitute teacher. Let's call him Mr. Williams. She had heard he was going to be teaching here today and she _needed_ to speak with him. I'm bored during my spare so I decide I'll help her find Mr. Williams. I didn't ask why she needed to see him, I wish I had though or else I wouldn't have helped her find him. Anyway, we go classroom to classroom looking for him and we must have searched seven or eight before we found him.
When she walked into that classroom he looked like he had seen a ghost. I have never seen a man look as scared as he did in my entire life. She get's right into the middle of the classroom and in her inebriated state she blurts out that she's pregnant and that Mr. Williams is the father. She goes off on this huge rant yelling at the guy out about how he hasn't returned her phone calls or texts since the last time they had s*x at his place. She asks him why he hasn't returned his phone calls. He is just standing there in a state of shock unable to put a coherent sentence together. Then she begins to cry and asks him if it's because she isn't attractive enough for him and before he can even reply she lifts up her shirt and takes it off and throws it at him, then she takes off her bra and throws it at him and yells "HOW CAN YOU NOT WANT THIS BODY? I'M THE SEXIEST WOMAN YOU'LL EVER F**K." Once she yelled that I just got the hell out of there, I didn't want to be around when the Principal or any other teachers showed up.
I was heading to my locker during my spare block after lunch to grab a Pop-Tart out of my locker when I see this girl from another high school in the hallway. She used to go to our school but she got expelled for showing up to class drunk. Anyways I see her in the hall way and I walk up to her to say hey. Before I can even utter a word she runs right at me and jumps on me giving me a massive bear hug. As she's hugging me I can smell the Whiskey on her breath. She let's go of me and I ask her what she's doing here and she said she was here to see a substitute teacher. Let's call him Mr. Williams. She had heard he was going to be teaching here today and she _needed_ to speak with him. I'm bored during my spare so I decide I'll help her find Mr. Williams. I didn't ask why she needed to see him, I wish I had though or else I wouldn't have helped her find him. Anyway, we go classroom to classroom looking for him and we must have searched seven or eight before we found him.
When she walked into that classroom he looked like he had seen a ghost. I have never seen a man look as scared as he did in my entire life. She get's right into the middle of the classroom and in her inebriated state she blurts out that she's pregnant and that Mr. Williams is the father. She goes off on this huge rant yelling at the guy out about how he hasn't returned her phone calls or texts since the last time they had s*x at his place. She asks him why he hasn't returned his phone calls. He is just standing there in a state of shock unable to put a coherent sentence together. Then she begins to cry and asks him if it's because she isn't attractive enough for him and before he can even reply she lifts up her shirt and takes it off and throws it at him, then she takes off her bra and throws it at him and yells "HOW CAN YOU NOT WANT THIS BODY? I'M THE SEXIEST WOMAN YOU'LL EVER F**K." Once she yelled that I just got the hell out of there, I didn't want to be around when the Principal or any other teachers showed up.
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15points
#19
I'm the teacher in this case. One of my grade 8 boys meant to say "Can you teach me?" but instead he said, "Can you touch me?"
Cue awkward silence as the whole class stares at me, waiting for my response.
Edit: For those asking how I responded, I just said "Nope!" and continued talking about math.
Cue awkward silence as the whole class stares at me, waiting for my response.
Edit: For those asking how I responded, I just said "Nope!" and continued talking about math.
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15points
#20
I went up to the front of the room to answer a question on the blackboard. While I was waiting to get chalk, I tried to be funny by doing stretches without the teacher looking. I ripped my trousers for the whole class to see :(.
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15points