Have you been to any competitions? If you had, were you scared? Well I have been to a few competitions, but today I would like to emphasize on one competition that I would always remember. This competition I entered was a piano competition. The piano competition was in Oakland, quite near the Chabot Space & Science Center.
One Febuary afternoon, my dad drove me to Oakland to compete. Before my session started, I had been there once before. That time I won the fourth prize. This time I really wanted to do better. Every year the competition takes place in a beautiful church. The church has many flowers in the entrance and on its sides. The problem is that we don't get to go inside the main church. The church has another property on its side. We compete there. When my dad and I went there, we were early. So we sat on few chairs inside the building. I looked at the list of people that I was going to compete with. Then suddenly, some body's name caught my attention. I read this name about six times. In my head, I said again and again,"Is it really her?" Then near the registration desk I saw her. I started smiling, then got nervous. I was really going to compete with her. Finally, my dad said it was time to go in. When she played her piece, my eyes grew as big as coins. "Wow!" I said to myself, "She plays great!" When it was my turn, I went to stage and played. The piece I was playing was composed by Schumann. When I was done, I went back to sit next to my dad. Many other children had played, and at the end the judges said they would take a recess to determine the winners. For a few minutes, she and I were playing and telling stories. The time flew by very fast and the judges were back already. The judges announced names. When they announced fourth prize, and did not mention my name, I thought I could still win. When the judges announced the third prize, I applauded and was very happy that they mentioned my friend's name. Then I was worried that I would not get anything. My heart was thumping very hard and my hands were sweating. When the judges mentioned the second prize, and I did not hear my name, I whispered to my dad's ear,"I don't think I would win anything." My dad replied, "Remember I will still give you a dollar." When they announced the first prize and spoke my name, I was astounded. I couldn't stop smiling. Till this day and on, I would always remember that day - I won first prize.
One Febuary afternoon, my dad drove me to Oakland to compete. Before my session started, I had been there once before. That time I won the fourth prize. This time I really wanted to do better. Every year the competition takes place in a beautiful church. The church has many flowers in the entrance and on its sides. The problem is that we don't get to go inside the main church. The church has another property on its side. We compete there. When my dad and I went there, we were early. So we sat on few chairs inside the building. I looked at the list of people that I was going to compete with. Then suddenly, some body's name caught my attention. I read this name about six times. In my head, I said again and again,"Is it really her?" Then near the registration desk I saw her. I started smiling, then got nervous. I was really going to compete with her. Finally, my dad said it was time to go in. When she played her piece, my eyes grew as big as coins. "Wow!" I said to myself, "She plays great!" When it was my turn, I went to stage and played. The piece I was playing was composed by Schumann. When I was done, I went back to sit next to my dad. Many other children had played, and at the end the judges said they would take a recess to determine the winners. For a few minutes, she and I were playing and telling stories. The time flew by very fast and the judges were back already. The judges announced names. When they announced fourth prize, and did not mention my name, I thought I could still win. When the judges announced the third prize, I applauded and was very happy that they mentioned my friend's name. Then I was worried that I would not get anything. My heart was thumping very hard and my hands were sweating. When the judges mentioned the second prize, and I did not hear my name, I whispered to my dad's ear,"I don't think I would win anything." My dad replied, "Remember I will still give you a dollar." When they announced the first prize and spoke my name, I was astounded. I couldn't stop smiling. Till this day and on, I would always remember that day - I won first prize.
25 comments:
Wow! I can't beleive you actually won first prize. Who was your friend that you met anyways. I don't think I could win first prize in the piano competition.
Yes. I had a racecar competition at my old church. The racecars were made out of wood. The racecar was not a real one but it was still fun. The best thing about it was that I made the racecar by myself, and a little help from my parents. I wasn't there to watch the race I was busy eating cotton candy. When they started to announce the names, I was really worried I wouldn't win. When they called my brother first, I was so jealous and angry that I started to cry. A minute later, they called my name, not because I was the fastest, but because my racecar was the prettiest. It was pretty because I added a lot of christian stickers onto it. I stood on the stage and used the trophy to block my face because I didn't want anyone to know that I was crying. As soon as I dried all my tears, I held my trophy under my face and I was smiling from ears to ears. It was one race I will never forget.
March 22, 2012
-Caroline
I bet you were really happy winning 1st prize. I have never won anything BIG in my life. Congratulations on winning. By the way, what year did you win this competition in?
Sincerely,
Wasi Alam
Wow, Caroline. I never knew that you were so good at playing the piano. Is it fun getting a first prize? I have a tennis tournament next to next weekend, and I plan on winning it. It must be exhilarating to wait ad hear the judges announcing prizes, and then hear your name called out to the public, but my tournament is not like that. I will know that I have won it before the judges call out my name.
TournaMihir
Caroline,
Congratulations! You must have worked really hard to earn first prize. Do you remember the name of the piece you played? I have also been to competitions and I was very nervous, just like you. Competitions can also get very exciting. I also know that feeling of being very surprised when you get something you really wanted, but you thought you're not going to get it. Competitions can make you feel so many things, such as nervousness and excitement.
Hi Caroline!
Seems like you were amazed you won second prize! I have been in competitions, but I forgot all of them. I have been to a soccer tournament before, though. In the finals, my team played against Kelly's team! It turned out we won though. The huge trophy was in our hands! Each of the player received a gold medal.
Nice Post!
Nice job! Even I messed up on my first piano competition. When we were done doing our song, we were suppose to go to your seat but I forgot to. Instead I panicked and went back to the room we were in waiting. Then, some of the kids did it, too. Then one of the adults helped us get to our seat. MOST EMBARRASSING THING EVER!!! Than I received a award for playing the song.
= \/ <--- eating the words!
Wow! I have never won anything. How many times have you won 1st prize? If it was only once, that must be why you remember it so well. Do you like piano or flute better? I play piano too, but I never go to competitions. What do you mean your dad gave you a dollar?
Anyways Great Post (AGP)
Good job on your competition! I've been to many competitions but I didn't really win anything.... I've gotten first place once though :) We have to compete in this dancing competition to get to the higher level and I got first place yay! :)
GOOOO CAROLINE!!! ;)
Wow! You must really played well. To bad I couldn't here it. Unlike me who didn't get any big major award I know how you must felt winning in first place. By the way, who was the person you kept mentioning in your blog? Is she in our school or a friend of yours? Anyways you had an awesome blog and I hope you win first again soon.
I once played in a simultaneous chess exhibition,where many kids played with my Math Olympiad instructor.However,I lost.Only two kids won,and only because the instructor himself made big mistakes in those games.:)It was fun though
Dear Caroline,
That was incredible!You really worked hard on getting the 1st prize.It is quite hard.I have a dance competition coming up.I am struggling to win 1st place like you.Anyways,You blog was amazing.不管怎麼說，你博客是驚人的。PS.That was Chinese.
Congratulations, Caroline! My sister and I both participated in U.S. Open before. My mom complains that it is WAY to far away. When I played, my piece was about 1 minute. Then my mom said something like we drove for hours and you played for one minute. But then she said it was okay because I got third place. Now I probably won't go to U.S. Open anymore because it's "too far away" (quoted from my mom).
Awesome post, Caroline!
Dear Caroline,
I have been to many competitions. Such as drawing,piano, and calligraphy. Every time I am competing, I feel really nervous. Once in a calligraphy contest, I got first place, so I had another competition with people from Taiwan and got fourth place! As you can see, Taiwanese people are the best at calligraphy.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Li
Great Post! I've had many competitions in my studies againest enemies but that doesn't count. I've been to swimming competitions though and won first place a few times. It's really really fun. I wish I went to a piano competition and won first place. I'm okay at piano but my mom thought I wasn't interested so took me out. Thanks Caroline
Nice competition Caroline! Who was the your friend there? Anyways I have competed in a competition. I was really scared that I got over confident. That competition I lost with my team.
I have never been to a competition because I don't like to compete. But I do have miny contests at my afterschool like running or basketball shooting. I only have won first place about 3 times in the basketball shooting and 1 time at running because I am not that good at running. That is all for this week.
NICE POST, CAROLINE!!!!!
Dear Caroline, I was really nervous before when I went to a Taekwondo tournament and I lost but I had fun, I had a feeling in my stomach. I learned from it and next time I am going to use my mind more. I am goin to another taekwondo tournament on April 21 and I know there will be a tough competion there. Nice blog post, Shrirang.
Dear Caroline,
I liked your blog a lot! Congratulations on winning first place!
I did go to a competition called Destination Imagination. On that competition, I went with my group in this big hall. In the hall we presented a structure made of news paper that could hold weights. The directors put more than 150 pounds before it collapsed. We got 4th place in the competition. I did not think this would happen. I will remember this all my life!
Love,Alex
I have never been in a competition before but I will soon. The intermediate band is going to Great America at May. We will be competing with other school bands. The judges will judge us on rhythm, tone quality, and other things. After the competition the best part is too play at Great America.
Hey Caroline,
I haven't been to a competition
before, but I have been to a piano recital. And I have been scared. But I played very well for what I say. And I think you did very well on posting your blog and a nice writing also.
One of the competitions that I have been to at school is the soccer games at school. The people are usually very competitive and it sometimes gets a little rough. People may push others to get the ball since there are so many people playing. However, I enjoy it.
Hey Caroline,
I haven't been to a piano competition but have been to a piano concert. I was very scared when I was playing. But I think I did play a good job. And I think you did a very good job posting the blog and the writing also.
Caroline
I can't belive that you won that contest. It felt like you wound not win but you did great. Who was that friend of yours? I have went to a piano recital at a church. I was so nervous that I was shivering. Did you win a trophy or something?
Once I went to a go (<-popular chinese board game). I was really nervous because it was my first time there. I played my hardest and got first place! The reason why I played so hard was because they gave out pizza during the competition. I have so far entered the competition five times and my standings were: first, first, first, seventh, and first. I like playing the game because your opponent during the tournament is not allowed to talk trash. You're not allowed to talk anytime during the tournament. Great post Caroline!
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