A mistake is something that happened because we weren’t being careful. An “unintended mistake” has quite a negative meaning compared with words like achievement and success. However, mistakes can be a method of achievement and success. Here are some various treasures around us which were invented through unintended mistakes!

-Sweet and Soft Chocolate Cream: Ganache-

 The chocolate cream ganache, which is used as a filling and is loved by people who have a sweet tooth, means ‘idiot,’ or ‘fool’ in French. A story about the origin of ganache shows the direct reason why the soft chocolate cream has this kind of name. In the 19th century at one French snack factory, an apprentice poured boiling milk into a bowl filled with chocolate by mistake. However, different from the expectation that the chocolate would be ruined, it turned into a soft chocolate cream. Thus, the chocolate cream was named ‘ganache’ because it was made by an apprentice's stupid mistake.

-Useful Everyday Stationary: Post-it Notes-

 When we want to note or highlight something important, we use Post-it Notes. This essential office supply is an invention that was made by a mistake. The Post-it was created by the 3M Company of the United States. Originally, they tried to make a product with strong adhesion but because of one researcher’s mistake, they made a product with weak adhesion. However, through this, they found out that there were no marks when Post- it Notes are attached. In this way, Post-it Notes were invented by mistake, but now they have become a must have office tool that we use in our everyday life. 

-The Greatest Mistake: Penicillin-

 To this day, penicillin, which is the first antibiotic, was actually accidentally discovered through one scientist's mistake. While British microbiologist Alexander Fleming was doing research about finding material that controls the reproduction of microorganisms, he left for vacation, leaving the culture dish plate of staphylococcus out by mistake. When he came back from vacation, inside of the plate there was green mold(a penicillium) and it didn't spread anymore. Through this, he found out that penicillium controls the growth of microbes. Penicillin is a fortunate scientific discovery made through Fleming’s laboratory mistake.

 Most people blame their past speech and behavior when they make mistakes. However, there are a lot more inventions and food that were invented by mistake than those listed. If there were no mistakes, we wouldn’t have the chocolate cream ganache, which gives sweet happiness, Post-it Notes, an essential office supply that students and office workers use, and the first antibiotic, penicillin, which is essential for our health. Therefore, when someone makes a mistake, rather than scolding, remember that the mistake can bring better success and achievement and we can try to learn and grow through mistakes.

79th Reporter • NAM HYE SEUNG • namhyeseung50@gmail.com