On Wednesday 26th July 2023 I got the greatest news of my life!
Here’s the backstory:
A few months ago, my English Teacher told me about an English speech competition and asked me to join. I was stumped because usually, I wasn’t asked to do this sort of thing 🙁. Just because they never knew…until the day I won an English competition (read my writing: Third Place: Gold Medal).
Still, I was eager to join, so I chose the title “My Hero” to hit it off. I told about Mum and Dad being my Heroes. They recorded it and sent it to the judges. They said that they would announce it after my birthday.
My birthday came and it was great (read my writing about: Me and Mum’s Birthday). Still, there was nothing 🙁. That was until Wednesday 26th July 2023. I was doing an online lesson, until Mum came and said that my Deputy Head-Teacher called. Mum asked me what I did wrong in school, which was ridiculous! Why would the Deputy Head-Teacher call my Mum like that?!
But, Mum was kidding. She told me that my Deputy Head-Teacher called to say that got nominated for the top ten to go to Medan because of my speech! He sent Mum the list, and I was amazed that I was the only one from town!!!
😀😀😀
I was sooooo happy and proud of myself. This was the first time in forever that I’ve been like this!
The next day, Thursday 27th July 2023, I still had to go to school. In the morning, my friend, who also was told to join the competition but didn’t get nominated, was the only one that knew. She yelled “CONGRATULATIONS!!” at the top of her voice, which gave others a hint.
When we had to do some “tor-tors” in our school yard, I was called by my friends. When I looked behind, I saw my English Teacher waiting for me there. She held my hand stiffly and led me to my Deputy Head-Teacher. He took a look at me and beckoned me to the bottom of our yard. My Head-Teacher was waiting there, with my sports teacher (he’s stricter than you think) with a sharp glare.
As my Head-Teacher turned me round and round, my sports teacher was looking at me, up and down, like…BOMBASTIC SIDE EYE!!! Then, my Head-Teacher led me to her office. I had to wait there for my English Teacher who was still at the yard.
She finally came and asked me how I was feeling, because I had been ill for the past few days. I told her I was fine and better. She asked me if I still remembered my speech. I forgot a few parts…Hey! Don’t judge! It had been much longer than you think 🙁.
My English teacher printed it, and gave me five minutes to try and remember it again. It had been more than TEN MINUTES when she came back, but I was ready. After I did my speech, she gave some advice to do when I go to Medan.
I was finally ready. When Mum picked me up, I said goodbye to my teachers and went back home.
After lunch, the coach came to pick us up, and we were finally on the way.
It. Was. A. Very. Bumpy. Ride!!! And the most annoying part was when a woman couldn’t remember where she had to get off 🙁🙁🙁!!! After a phone call, she finally remembered, and went off. PHEW!
We had to call a GoCar (which is like Uber) to get to the hotel. That night a practised three more times before bedtime, which was amazingly worth it.
The next day, Friday 28th July 2023 was the day that waited me.
I dressed up quickly to go and get breakfast. I had some yummy, warm porridge, and that was all that I ate, but like those only three practises, it was very worth it!
We took a GoCar to the Erlangga office, where I will perform.
I started getting nervous, but I always remembered about the people who supported me: My parents, Mum’s friends, her office, even my whole school!
Finally it was time to go in, and we had to choose numbers to up to the front. I was pleased to say that I was number six. I had so much time to prepare.
Finally it was my turn. I said my speech as loudly and clearly as possible. You can watch in this link: https://youtu.be/2jryOe57gys
I knew the judges were tired, because they thought that My Hero was just Dad, but I already said clearly that it was BOTH of my parents.
Next, they decided to do some karaoke, and, unbelievably, they chose me to do the singing!I couldn’t believe it, but I couldn’t take it back. I sang Eyes Closed by Ed Sheeran. After halfway, something incredible happened. Whilst I was singing, a Chinese boy was dancing in his seat, so the judge asked him if he wanted to sing to and offered him a microphone. Weirdly, he jumped up, snatched the microphone from his hand and ran towards me singing the chorus. I was too bewildered to say anything at all!
After the break was a finished, the competition continued until everyone in the room had had at turn. The judges went off to count our scores, when the event leader told me to sing AGAIN! Honestly! He said, because my culture was Batak, I had to sing a Batak song! I chose the song “Rap”, which means together in the local language.
After I was finished, a young Middle School Girl called Grace was told to sing next, and, goodness she had such a beautiful voice as she sang, “All by Myself”. Wonderful!!!
Finally, time was up and the judges came up to say the winners and the scores. At fourth place, there was a girl named Celine. She went to Prime One School, which was an international school, where most has to learn English.
They then said the score of the student in third place, which was 87, 78. That was an amazing score, when I heard that it was ME!!! 😀😀😀. I knew I wasn’t first place and wasn’t able to go to Jakarta for the finals, but I’ve gone THIS FAR and things have become so great. The first place student was an Indian boy named Kuhaneesh. I saw him crying as I approached him saying congrats.
Still, I loved this experience and the trophy was brilliantly big. I do hope I will get more. You too 😀😀😀
~ Agatha 😀 ~
