Has Modesty Ever Prevented You From Celebrating an Achievement?

I have had experience with modesty before. If you win something too many times after a while, others just stop trying because they know that it’ll be the same result every time. So I have had to pretend that something was hard when it really wasn’t or accept compliments really casually in order to let other people feel like they still have a chance at winning. But this grim acceptance has somewhat effected me. I no longer felt like I could enjoy my success because I was afraid of what others might think.

It’s hard to train for a big event like cross-country skiing, but it’s even harder to stay modest about it after earning a gold medal. We live in a country where we make succeeding over other countries a top-priority goal, and we, as individuals, take beating our peers a big ambition. It’s important to remember that while we may be higher up than others, we are equally as flawed as everyone else.

Q: Do you think modesty is a good thing, or a bad thing or a combination of the two? Explain. A: In my opinion, modesty is both good and bad. It's good because modesty sort of keeps you in check; you won't start bragging about your achievements and make others around you feel annoyed or upset, and you won't think that you're higher or better than anybody. Modesty also helps you to accept other people's achievements, which helps you be a good neighbor, a good friend, a good person in general. I also think that modesty can be a bad thing, however, because it could cause you to downplay yourself. It's nice to accept others' success, but it's also nice to accept your accomplishments and be proud of them, because you've worked hard to achieve them and deserve the credit. Modesty might cause somebody to feel that they shouldn’t acknowledge their own success because it might be rude or considered arrogant to others, but the truth is, you should put yourself first in situations where you really deserve the praise and sense of achievement.

I think that Norway is doing the right thing by helping other countries. It is true that the sport will die if Norway always wins everything. No one wants to watch a sport when they know that the best they can do is second or third. But if you train in the sport more than other people then you deserve first.

Sometimes when people achieve a lot, such as the 39 Norwegian medals, it can provide a sense of dominance or superiority over others. This can lead to boasting, which isn’t good. Perhaps the Norwegians don’t want their athletes to win too much because they don’t want other countries to have harsh feelings towards them. Kind of the irritated feeling you get that only gets worse when the other side appears to be rubbing it in your face. But, for sure, celebration is a good thing. Celebration is a time to be happy and remember all the hard work you did to get to where you are. Achievement is a reason to celebrate, and deserves recognition.

I think modesty is both a good and bad thing. It's good to take pride in your accomplishments but it's not good to take too much pride, as in thinking that you're better than other people because of your accomplishments. Having confidence can drive you forward so when you're "too modest" to the point where you feel ashamed of your success is not okay because that could make you stop advancing.

In my opinion, modesty is a combination of a good thing and a bad thing. If you achieve something, there is no reason why you shouldn't be recognized for that achievement. Of course, there should always be a hint of modesty so that you are not bordering a sense of superiority to others. In today's society, it seems as though wanting recognition for something you did is a negative thing. People are put down because of other's inability to desire the best for those around them. Modesty is an important virtue to have but there are times when modesty can limit a person. Sometimes, people are afraid to highlight their best moments because they fear the negative responses they may get from their peers. Society has, in a way, trained people to be modest and keep to themselves in an attempt to satisfy the people around them. I personally do not think that Norway should play down its athletes' achievements because those who excel should undoubtedly receive recognition. They have worked tremendously to get to where they are and it is not fair to tell them that they are doing too much. The point of working hard is to eventually see positive, rewarding results.

Modesty is both good and bad just like the yin and yang. Modesty by definition is the quality of being relatively moderate in the estimation of one's abilities. I applaud Norway for being modest and unique for wanting to play down their athletes since they feel dominant in the winter Olympics and want other countries to feel the same pride. But how can you blame them for excelling? After all, they live in Norway, the land of ice and snow. In my opinion, I believe they should not play down their athletes because all of these athletes put themselves in mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting mindsets that this is the only way in which they get rewarded for all of their hard work.

I’ve not accomplished much of anything in the way of big achievements in my life, but it is obvious that people are afraid of coming off as too prideful when they perform well in any competitive platform, even when they have dedicated their life to the sport. Of course, being too boastful will most definitely result in becoming a nuisance in the eyes of the people around you, however we’ve reached a progression of “pseudo-political correctness” where these athletes are most likely being advised by their agents and organization owners to keep their mouths closed in all situations. I say “pseudo-” because this is not an attempt to actually be politically correct and respectful, but a result of people in competition looking for any loophole or slip up -- often involving the scrutinization of other athletes’ words -- in order to try to disqualify or shame the people they lost against. I believe that modesty in moderation is perfectly healthy, although being too modest can work in the opposite direction in some cases and actually come across as extreme arrogance. It goes without saying, as well, that having no modesty can’t be interpreted as anything other than someone being blatantly overconfident.

For me, I have never been self-conscious or embarrassed because of my achievements. I celebrate with my close friends and family when I go best times, I’ll smile and shake my fist in the air after I go a best time… but I will also never forget to shake the swimmer’s hand beside me and thank him, because he pushed me to go faster. The problem is not modesty, no, because, even when you’ve strived to achieve that amazing goal, there will also be people who are jealous or, for whatever reason, are just rude to you because of your accomplishments. I’ve learned through mean comments that you can’t tell most kids nowadays your achievements, because they will hate you for it. For some reason, they take it as an affront, and will either call you cocky or too confident. My close friends and my family always have my back, and they are the ones that give me confidence, not my accomplishments. They are the ones who brought me to goal after goal. Even though everyone will tell you that modesty is key for being on top, you have to delve into how they reached the top in order to understand that confidence in yourself is the only way you can achieve something great. It takes a while after achieving something great to learn modesty, as your hard work and dedication usually pours itself out in one joyous instance. So, I would say no, Modesty has never prevented me from celebrating any achievement. I care only what the people who care for me have to say about my achievements.

Personally, I believe Norway couldn’t have reacted better. Modesty is very important and keeps interactions formal and clean. Also, it is not like Norway isn’t celebrating, this is just their true method. I can understand where some people are coming from being angry though. If you worked really hard on something just to remain inches away from your goal, while someone else wins and celebrates seemingly half-heartedly, it might anger you a little. However, would you rather them boast in front of you instead. I think that Norway should take pride in their modesty (funny how that works), they are simply accepting a fair, well fought game as the victors, which I admire. I recently won a comeback basketball game, and as soon as the clock buzzed 0, my entire team bounced off the bench in a vigorous ecstasy. However, reading about Norway’s reaction and looking back at that game has made me realize the importance of modesty, in sports as well as everyday life. If the situation was flipped and we lost to a comeback, I’m sure it would sting a lot, especially seeing the other team jump around in excitement. However, this just made me idolize Norway even more. They are able to remain excited without full out showing it or being carried away in the moment. I believe this is something more countries as well a individuals should strive to be more like the people of Norway and follow their great example.

I feel like sometimes when you dominate in a certain field (like the Norwegians do in the skiing events), you want others to enjoy the feeling of winning, even at the expense of your own success. You can get to the point where you’d rather see everyone succeed and be happy, and in some cases people will even resent the person that always claims the victories. Everyone can get behind the underdog, even their opponents. As a fan of UNC basketball, there will never be a day that I'd root for Duke to win, but if a really small school with a big heart gets a chance to beat my team, occasionally I’ll secretly hope they win if they put up a big fight. Personally though, I feel like there are times when you’re encouraged not to make a big deal about winning, to spare others’ feeling or some other politeness. I also feel like some people are just more modest by nature, and have a harder time dealing with being the best because it puts them into a spotlight that they never asked for. The culture in Norway seems to be more similar to this mentality. As Frank Aukland remarked on this habit,“‘Modesty is a big part of the culture here. And Norwegians don’t go out much.’ Unless it’s Constitution Day, ostentatious displays of all kinds are frowned upon in Norway, especially when it comes to wealth, a notable feature in one of the world’s richest countries.” Some people could probably use some more recognition, but many could probably use a little more modesty in their lives, here in the US.

I only like celebrating my achievements when the achievement was caused by a team effort, like winning a soccer game, or performing a play. I think my resistance to celebrating good things comes from my fear of being perceived as selfish or full of myself by my peers. Knut Nystad says in the article that 'some people in Norway yell at us when we win too much'. I had a few experiences in my past where people have thought I was a cheater because I was 'too successful'. I wonder if being thought of as cheaters is why Norwegians want to downplay their achievements. I think modesty is a good thing, I think modesty only becomes a problem when it completely prevents from being proud of yourself, or if the modesty stems from fear of being judged.

Personally, I believe Norway couldn’t have reacted better. Modesty is very important and keeps interactions formal and clean. Also, it is not like Norway isn’t celebrating, this is just their true method. I can understand where some people are coming from being angry though. If you worked really hard on something just to remain inches away from your goal, while someone else wins and celebrates seemingly half-heartedly, it might anger you a little. However, would you rather them boast in front of you instead. I think that Norway should take pride in their modesty (funny how that works), they are simply accepting a fair, well fought game as the victors, which I admire. I recently won a comeback basketball game, and as soon as the clock buzzed 0, my entire team bounced off the bench in a vigorous ecstasy. However, reading about Norway’s reaction and looking back at that game has made me realize the importance of modesty, in sports as well as everyday life. If the situation was flipped and we lost to a comeback, I’m sure it would sting a lot, especially seeing the other team jump around in excitement. However, this just made me idolize Norway even more. They are able to remain excited without full out showing it or being carried away in the moment. I believe this is something more countries as well a individuals should strive to be more like the people of Norway and follow their great example.

Hey New York Times, shoutout to you guys this one is about you! So recently I entered in the Media Literacy Contest and won an honorable mention which had really excited me since there were so many people that entered. Having your video displayed on such a popular website was really cool! Although, I hadn't thought to have told my parents because it just felt weird, how do you lightly mention in casual conversation, "hey I uh- won a New York Times Student Contest" I didn't want to boast or make a big deal out of it, it would just come out vain and I did not want it to be awkward. I ended up doing an interview for it too, also something exciting, and eventually invited to a school board meeting to be given an award for my efforts. "Oh lord" I thought, "I gotta tell them now." But it was even harder now, it became a bigger deal and turned into an event we all had to attend! The whole school day I pondered how I would awkwardly bring it up, until fourth period when I got a text from my mom. "Big news! I'll tell you in the car" "Woah, woah wait. Did she know?? How???" I thought about this the whole period. I hopped in the car and the first thing she said was "Well how come you didn't tell me about this! Nicole Lauren Tinnerello this is huge, don't forget about this!" Well I felt stupid. It's my family! Modesty goes out the window, we celebrate each other's victories and I should be proud to tell them first.

After I read this article I thought about myself and my modesty. Ironically, a few weeks ago at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, my mom introduced me to someone who was asking about my high school classes. They had heard of students getting published in the New York Times. I explained to them about the new writing prompts each week and how the New York Times picks their favorite comments. After explaining everything, my mom encouraged me to tell them that I have been published 5 times in the student favorite comments. It was a little awkward and embarrassing for me to brag about my accomplishments to a stranger. I understand where the Norwegians are coming from. I happen to know someone from Norway and she is very understated. I’ve never really heard her brag or be really “showy” about anything. Whenever she comes down to visit, she is always thankful for everything and always cleans up after herself. I think living modestly is a good way to live. You don’t come off as annoying to other people or selfish. But of course you can always brag to your friends.

Modesty is always good to have when you're on top; it's best to be that way to not be persevered as being too cocky or arrogant. But I do feel there is a point in which being too modest is a problem, like Annika said,"taking pride in being modest than your not being modest." Being on a cross country team has taught me a lot about modesty. When you run a super fast time for yourself and set a personal record for yourself, you get an immense sense of of pride, but when anyone asks you how you did you’re pretty much like,”ehh I did alright.” I think modesty is important to have, especially as an athlete, but you have to take your wins and live in the moment to really appreciate life.

Countries like Norway are extremely unique in today's society. Some people think that Norway is downplaying their success, but in reality the culture of the country prevents them from oversharing. They are indeed proud of their athletes, but when they win "too much" it is hard to celebrate in private. I tend not to share my personal achievements to prevent sounding self centered. For example, if I realize that I ruined the curve, people might be upset because they could have gotten more extra points. Norwegians are expert winter athletes because they spend a lot of their time practicing. With hard work and dedication, Norway has come out on top. In the article it mentions that Norway's achievements are a problem; this is because Norwegians don't know how to react. Knut Nystad says, "Other countries dominate other sports. Why is the argument against success made only in the sport where we're succeeding?" I believe that Norwegians don't know the feeling of having their country succeed in athletics, and now that they are experiencing this their first reaction is to humble themselves. In general, modesty is a good thing, but if one is too modest, they might think they are not as good as their peers. I think that our world today needs more modesty, not just in athletics, but in other achievements, too.

I believe that the Norwegians should be open to celebrating their accomplishments of hard work and preparation for the events. I have definitely experienced something like this. I have had instances where I have beat friends in competitive sports and hardly celebrated the win, or I have gotten an amazing grade, again in relation to my friends, and not celebrated it or made it a big deal. I think that in some situations it is important to be modest or kind enough to not rub it in somebody else's face that may have been just barely behind you and done the same amount of work, or maybe even more than you. This article attempts to explain how showing their hard work and celebrations for their achievements. Modesty is a combination of good and bad. Some people do it on purpose when they should be very proud of themselves for their accomplishments, and it makes them look worse.

Maintaining an element of modesty is important for any situation, especially when you are number one in the entire world. Winning 39 medals overall 14 of which being gold and shattering the record for most medals at any winter games is truly an amazing achievement. Norway’s decision for a low-key and reflective celebration allows other countries to get their moment as well while showing a huge amount of maturity. I myself am constantly working to become a more modest person when it comes to any of my achievements. Norway’s culture has always taught modesty which could be another reason they won so much. If you aren’t so full of yourself and more grounded in reality it can be a lot easier to perform at your absolute best. I love how Norway isn’t only putting in effort to allow their own athletes to excel but also “lift others up elsewhere.” according to the article Norway offers training in these winter sports to anyone who would like to become better. This open arms approach to competition says a lot about Norway’s integrity, and explains how they’re so successful.

I think Norway's modesty is admiral but see the benefits of celebrating your accolades. This relates to me in ballet a lot, because I'll do something really good like a quadruple pirouette on pointe or a double assemble turn and instead of being happy, I beat myself up over minute errors. This is detrimental, because I'm never quite satisfied. It is not so much modesty, but that I'm always looking for something to improve and another milestone to surpass. It is a daily undertaking and by far one of the most taxing qualities of ballet and really in anything. But there are definitely moments where it all pays off, and this is during performance. During a performance I embrace the excitement of the stage and radiate pure joy, and whatever emotions I am supposed to have in my part. But it really is the best feeling, when you know that your hard work has paid off and the crowd is roaring, your friends by your side, united by a common accomplishment. Norway should keep up the modesty, but should keep in mind that no one would blame them for kicking back and enjoying their win.

Norway should be very proud of their accomplishments. I mean 39 medals at 1 olympics is outstanding for a country like Norway. These athletes train for 4 years straight for 2 weeks of competition and if that were me I would be very happy to know that it all payed off and be recognized as one of the best in my sport. Don't get me wrong be boastful to the other teams is wrong but winning something because you have earned it and celebrate because of it fits into my definition of modesty just fine.

In the 2018 Winter Olympic Games the Norwegians has an amazing run. Norway won a total of Thirty nine medals, and fourteen gold medals. This surpasses many other countries but falls short to countries such as the United States, and Germany.Norway excells in the winter games, because they live in the harsh winter environment. The athletes are born and raised into becoming world champions, and made to excell in their event to bring home fame and glory to their home country.

Modesty has changed in current society. An unspoken rule has been instilled in early childhood and re-established throughout life; accomplishments and success cannot be flaunted. The need to accomplish has been overshadowed by the burden of the average ability and success. I find myself hiding my academic successes from my peers because of not wanting to seem like a ‘show off’ or ‘overachiever’. Those who accomplish in any aspect in life are held to this standard of being modest and humble. Many claim that modesty is needed so that those who accomplish do not push down or belittle those who do not. Yes, modesty is warranted for those successes; however, an excess of modesty can lead some to feel oppressed from expressing their accomplishments. People of all ages should be modest, but balance that modesty with a pride of their accomplishments.

Norway is unique in wanting to down play accomplishments at the Olympic level, but I think that it is custom almost everywhere to take modesty so far that we are hindering our pride and confidence that comes from accomplishment. This issue is especially prominent with women. From a young age we are taught not to be boastful, to win with grace. Good advice, right? Nobody wants a graceless winner. However, the problem starts when women take away from their accomplishment to make others, especially men feel better about themselves. The amount of times I have heard women say things like, “oh, it was just luck,” or “You deserved it more, the only reason I got this was… (insert ‘excuse’ as to why a woman did something better)”, is remarkable and sad. Or what about the classic storyline of a man feeling inmasculine and uncomfortable because their significant other is in a higher powered job or makes more money, leading to the demise of the relationship? The culture around women and success is just like in Norway with the fear that they are winning too much. Modesty is a good thing when it is not self-deprecating and full of double standards. Modesty is not reducing yourself to save somebody else's’ feelings- it is being proud and thankful for success while not using it as a weapon against others, but unfortunately that belief standpoint has been and continues to be left behind.

I am a competitive dancer. I go to competitions, I dance on stage, and I get scored and ranked based on how well I perform. I have placed at competitions, and I even win some. I am proud of what I have accomplished thus far because I work hard, and I am always pushing to get better. My performance at competitions, though, stems from my efforts in dance class. I try my hardest, I come to class, and I refrain from being intimidated. I hope to get attention from dance teachers, and stand out from my teammates because I want to be acknowledged for my hard work and dedication. However, I remain humble. I don’t talk about a comment I got for the rest of class, I don’t speak about my scores and standings freely, and I keep the celebrating to myself and anyone who wants to celebrate with me. While some people are supportive, and others may get jealous, I don’t try to hide or stand out less. Regarding the Olympics, I think that it is sad to see that Norway is questioning if they are winning “too much”. They have worked hard as a country to perfect their sports and train for the Olympics. While the purpose may not be all about winning for a country, athletes aren’t going to throw away their talents to be modest. Overall, I think that as long as people are in check with how they celebrate, they shouldn’t be afraid to.

Compared to many other countries, Norway is unique in the way it promotes celebration. Being humble of their recent record-breaking success in Pyeongchang reveals their maturity as a country. The article enumerates the ways Norwegians have had great success in winter sports. For them, there is this burning passion; love for these sports which develops into a unique, Norwegian spirit. Even though they train with World Cup athletes, the main reason for their success has come from that “spirit” alone. Their success could be seen however, as a “conundrum” due to their recurring mentality of not celebrating. Norwegians struggle with winning because they don’t truly know HOW to celebrate or when it's appropriate because they have been groomed to believe that celebrating can be seen as selfish. Personally, when I experience success, I am similar to the Norwegians in that I remain humble and feel there is no need for celebrations; one who never seeks attention. Modesty can be good in certain situations but binding in others. Recently, I toured colleges and met with a field hockey coach. When asked about myself, I almost forget to mention some of my achievements; one in particular-- my recently earned captain-ship. My modesty and fear of being too boastful almost prevented me from sharing something great. For me, my humbleness can sometimes get in the way of sharing, or even remembering that I am successful; and I have realized that success should be celebrated, not ignored.

Norway is nation in which a person’s modesty is put above many other traits, and this shines bright even through achievements as great as the Olympic Games. While this may seem rather unusual for celebration-oriented Americans viewing the lack of response form the outside, it’s par for the course for nations like Norway who believe that a humble air is an expected trait. I don’t think that Norway is unique in its modesty, but I do believe that the other half of their motive is unique. While they prioritize modesty, they also prioritize… cross country skiing. The paradox occurs when they want to see the sport spread, but they also seem to unfailingly dominate the sport. Both the cultural norms that lead Norwegians to this humble nature, and their physical surroundings prepared them for this past Olympic Games, and shaped the response that they received: none. I have been in situations in which modesty was appreciated in many disciplines. There have been times in school, sports, and other high-stress/competitive places in which the trait was needed to maintain respect. I believe that modesty is an insurmountably important trait to have, but it is even more important to know when - or when not - to employ it. Sure, it’s courtesy to keep the feelings of others at the forefront of your mind - especially in times of stress/competition; however, it’s vital to know when it’s acceptable to celebrate success. After all, it is nice to have a pat on the back every now and again.

No one likes the person who wins first place and brags about it as much as possible. People are taught from a young age to be modest about their achievements so others wont feel bad. While modesty is a good trait, I believe you should find a balance in the middle. If an athlete trains really hard all season for one big game and scores the winning point of course they should be proud of themselves. They should not be forced to be modest around people just to be seen as acceptable. A middle balance needs to be found to still be proud of your hard work, but not to come off as braggy. Norway is a great example of modesty. As stated in the article, Norway came home from the Winter Olympics with 39 metals, 14 of them being gold. While this is a major victory, there will be no big parades or parties back in Norway to celebrate the win. Instead, Norway is encouraging other countries to visit and learn from them so they can be successful too. “ Instead of holding back its athletes, Norway is trying to lift others everywhere else.”

I think that a healthy amount of modesty is good - it is important not to let your accomplishments make you overly prideful, and it’s important to think of other people’s feelings, even when it’s the last thing that’s on your mind. To me, the reason why Norway’s downplaying of their athletes’ accomplishments is so mind-boggling is because we live in America. Truthfully, America is a very prideful country. We win gold, and everyone knows about it because we shove the medals in their faces and sneer. It’s a compensation thing, I think. But, I digress. Norway’s success could be a conundrum for a plethora of reasons. Once Norway becomes prideful about their winnings, it becomes a competition against themselves, and the second that they fall off of the pedestal that they have fashioned for themselves, the world seems to implode. With success, there will also always be somebody in the shadows, hoping that you’ll slip, because they want a chance to be admired. It is this very pressure that has caused many to crack. It is this very same pressure, however, that can create stars. Modesty, to me, is intertwined with empathy. It’s important to be modest, but not too much - modesty is remembering that there are people in the shadows; it’s remembering that ultimately, victories are short-lived, and medals are just medals. Should America follow the path that Norway is forging? I’m not sure if America is capable of toning down the whole prideful thing.

When I was younger, my mother told me stories of her embarrassment when her professor would announce her perfect grade for each test. She would keep her head down and just shrug it off. I can remember questioning her actions, thinking if I ever got a better grade than my classmates, I would be proud and flaunt my achievement. Turns out my mother was right. My first year taking Spanish was a breeze. The concept felt so natural for me and while my classmates were struggling, I would be making one hundreds. I received cold glances from my friends as they whispered that I was such a try hard. I could do nothing more than keep my head down and shrug it off. That’s why I don’t blame Norway’s concernment for their insane medal count. I can empathize their feelings for a grand achievement that is envied by others. Keeping it on the down low is the only way to escape that especially when you are “one of the world’s richest countries”. The country is used to being humble so staying this way will be normal. Also, a strong point the article brought up was if the Norwegians completely dominate cross-country skiing, the other countries will lose hope and stop trying so hard. Their duty of modesty is to keep their favorite sport alive and ongoing, and there’s no shame in that. While I do believe Norway should celebrate these athletes a little for their history made at the Games, it is apart of their culture to remain humble and apart of their passion for winter sports to let them reign on.

Modesty is a trait few people have. Whether its winning an important medal or achieving a goal, some people choose to be modest and do not want the publicity. Others openly express their accomplishments and excessive amounts of pride can result in arrogance. Norway is unique to want to play down their achievements. In the past, it has been a common theme for countries to boast their accomplishments and proudly display their medals. This year during the Winter Olympics, the article shows how Norway has decided to be modest. Despite their great achievements, they are not boastful. They participated because they enjoy the sport. I have had a similar experience when receiving the Coach's Award during a swim banquet. I didn't want to flaunt my accomplishment in front of my other teammates who worked just as hard as I did. I did not want to boast because I did not care for the award. I believe experience and passion for what you do is far more important than an award.

Modesty is a necessity. It is what keeps our feet on the ground, and our heads in reality. It is easy to get overly fixated on accomplishments, but with just a little bit of modesty the downfalls can me appreciated too.

Modesty is always good in that it keeps out cockiness and allows someone (or something) to always be on guard rather than staying relaxed and missing vital details, it also allows the learning from failures rather than an outrage from failures. Norway’s modesty will help prolong their winning streak as they learn and adapt from their short comings.

Modesty is good hower If you're taking pride in being modest than your not being modest.

I think that it shows good character of Norway; instead of openly displaying pride in their achievements at the Olympics, they are being modest about it so they do not come off as “bragging”. Modesty is a great thing to have because it spares the feelings of others who maybe did not do as well at something that you excelled at and sharing your success would only make them feel worse. I do however believe that in bigger cases like this with the Olympics, Norway should feel like they are able to celebrate their achievements because it is on such a larger scale that it would not seem as though they are bragging as it would if it was a student celebrating they got a hundred on a test in front of another student who got a 50. This is something that I personally experience a lot in my life. Many times my friends will talk about how they all did so bad on a test that I did really well on and usually I will just stay quiet in order to spare their feelings and not seem like i'm bragging and boasting that I got a good grade. Other times modesty is important after my team wins a game; many times instead of celebrating in front of the other team we will wait until we get into the locker room.