On December 2nd, 2023, I joined an Olympiade (again!).
I woke up, and I was thoroughly excited, and calm overall. I was going to be joining two subjects Math and English.
I wanted to join IPA (biology/science) first, before getting the big step on Math, but never mind. I ate breakfast quickly, and set all my stuff.
I took three 2b pencils, one eraser, one ruler, and my clipboard. I put them all in a sack-bag (not a backpack, because the Olympiade was near home), and went to the canteen with Dad to wait for it to start.
Of course, students from many school around and near Toba were already here. It was really crowded, also because the security wouldn’t let us in.
Both Math and English were being held there, so there were two charts of names that were joining; English (left) and Math (right).
My name was on both of the charts. It was easy to find it because it was and “A” for “Agatha.
Sure thing, in less than ten minutes, we were allowed to get in. Math was first.
Only students were allowed to get in. I waved at Dad by the window, before seeing on my right…
That my friend Danish was also there!
He’s also pretty clever, different class, but I know him, because his “marga” is the same as mine.
In the hours of the work, I only understood a few. I thought that it was like an exam, so answered everything. But, because I was pretty unsure, I emptied the two last answers.
Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, it finished and I drank, a ton of water. It was soooo hot and I chug it down, until, I get inside again to join English.
I went to my exact same seat as I was in Math, and I was finally by myself.
I see a few of my friends. The ones who live near me, and also the ones that go to the same school.
When I looked to the first question, I burrowed my eyebrows.
I already knew that the questions were pretty easy. I managed to answer all of them.
I went to the toilet, and as I did, I caught a glimpse of most my friends from school, and not.
But when I arrived at the toilet, the girls toilet was so crowded and packed. Because of that, I had to go out and wait for it to end 🙁
After an hour ½, we got out.
I was very happy that was over, also because I really needed to go the toilet.
My friend from school wanted to visit my house, but she had to get her Mum’s permission, so she looked around for her.
Meanwhile, I caught Mum and her friends sitting near the parking lot.
As Mum gave me chocolate, her friends kept saying She’s definitely gonna win or just put her in the front, she’ll win anyways.
I was like, ‘Geez, stop!’ But I just said that in my mind so no one else heard it but me.
We wanted to go the entrance hall, but it was packed, so we went back to the canteen instead.
There, Mum and I played an ABC game, while waiting for our lunch to come. Whilst waiting, I finally went to the toilet, and it wasn’t crowded anymore 🙂
After we finish, we immediately went to the Auditorium for the announcement. We got in, but it was still IPA. We got out again…
…but it seems as if there was no way back in.
We waited for more than half an hour, before they let us in for the English announcement.
I dunno how, but I had to the toilet then.
But as I do, I had a fit while trying to get back in. The assistant wasn’t there, so I had to push my way through and jump over the railings to get back inside.
Sure enough, it was worth it.
It was already silver, and they hadn’t called my name yet. All of my friends have been called though!
But my heart stopped racing as they announced the gold prize.
ME!
I couldn’t really hear it, because the microphone was cracking up, but, me!!!
I was very happy. I got a gold medal and money too (I’ve already agreed with Mum and Dad to use it to get new Lego).
Even though I didn’t get math, I know that when I try again, I’ll do better and I’ll promise to always keep improving to get a better score in the olympiade 🙂
Well at least I know how the questions will be like…
Luv,
Agatha Simanjuntak
