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TIFU when I showcased my incompetence to my professors and new fellow students on my first day at university

New account for reasons.

I decided to study Physics at 35 years old. With gray hair, I stand out as noticeably older than the average student, having previously studied and worked in a different field.

Frst day at university, during the first lecture, several professors were present, introducing themselves and welcoming us. The "lecture" ended and as I sat near the exit I became the first one to reach the door. The professors were standing nearby, engaging in conversation with each other, with two of them looking curiously in my direction.

As I reached the door, I decided to play it safe and thought to myself, "Make a good impression and don't embarrass yourself by pushing the door in the wrong direction like an idiot."

Since it was a marked emergency exit and the frame indicated it would open outward, I was quite confident it would swing that way. However, being small in stature and not particularly muscular, I found some doors incredibly difficult to open. So, with a brisk pace, I approached the door, hoping that a little momentum would make it easier to open. After all, I didn't want to be perceived as weak by my new fellow students, in addition to standing out due to my age. So here I go...

...I hit the glass like a fly, making an astonishing amount of noise. All the professors turned to look at me, and I turned red with embarrassment. Quickly, I pulled on the door inwardly to correct my mistake and escape the awkward situation. But nothing happened.

In my mind, I could already feel the impatience of the students waiting behind me. I began to grow nervous.

Desperately searching for help, I met the gaze of around 200 bewildered students. Panic set in, and I started sweating.

Realizing that the only way to handle this situation gracefully was to act mature and composed, I made the decision to admit my ignorance and simply asked how to open the door. However, deep down, I felt like a complete idiot.

One professor, far from being angry, kindly informed me that the door automatically locked after a certain time and that I needed to press the button located to the left of the door.

Feeling somewhat relieved that it wasn't entirely my fault, I turned back towards the door and thought to myself, "Don't stress yourself and mix up left and right now, come on you got that!" Despite the pressure, I successfully overcame this hurdle and searched for the button on the correct side. I spotted a single small button outlined in red, and a voice in my head subconsciously whispered that it didn't quite look appropriate. I checked the wall and the door frame again for any other buttons but found none. Gathering all my courage, I confidently pressed the button.

Within split seconds, I realized my fatal mistake as the sirens blared. It was the fire alarm for the entire building.

Shock overwhelmed me, and I wished I could simply sink into the ground. I glanced around, and suddenly, at hip level (clearly there to be reachable for wheelchair users), I noticed a large, flat switch (which I wouldn't have described as a "button") that had gone unnoticed due to its near-perfect color match with the door frame. I pressed it, heard the hum of the door opener, and with a more than gentle push, the door swung open, and I rushed out, fully aware that I could never show my face at this university again.

After walking at fast pace about 50 meters, I turned a corner and hastily glanced over my shoulder one more time. Everyone was still standing there visible through the glass front, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened. The gaze of one professor met mine, and for a brief moment, I saw a facial expression that will haunt me until I die.

TL;DR; I was too dumb to open the door after my first lecture at my new uni, and set the fire alarm in front of everyone before fleeing the scene

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