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Perseverance and patience

A life of rejection, but you still carry on fighting. This applied to me, but I was not alone, I had the invaluable support of my mother and my friends.  

Last June, I was preparing to sit my entrance exam for music school. Success would mean not having to go to my local school. I really wanted to pass. I practiced with my teacher all day long, and I would come home too exhausted to do my homework.  

The days passed and as the exams approached, I became more and more anxious. The daily routine, the worry and my nerves were all tiring me out.  

I remember being ill the day before the exam and spending it in bed, asleep. I woke up the next morning full of anxiety. I got dressed and left for the examination centre with my mother. I thought I was fully prepared, but I wasn’t.  My teacher and some friends who were also sitting the exams were already there, waiting for us.  

First were the written exams, they were easy. Then came the hard part – the practical. We had to sing in front of the examiners then play a tune on the xylophone. I didn’t do well, and when I left the hall, I started crying. 

I knew I hadn’t passed and I was right. The results came three days later. I had failed. As soon as I heard, I burst into tears and was inconsolable. Why? Why hadn’t I passed? I felt terrible. I lay awake all night crying and thinking. I got to the stage of wanting to throw myself off the balcony, but I didn’t. I couldn’t bear the rejection. A week went by and my mother came to speak to me. She told me this had to stop. She decided to organise a party to give me a boost. I called it the “Rejects party”. It was due to take place in the evening. About 20 people came and I couldn’t believe my eyes. All my friends came to support me.  

The party went on till late and the following morning I woke up happy. I felt really well, which I hadn’t done for almost a month. Two months went by and on the evening of August 28th, my teacher telephoned us to say that a new music school had just opened. As soon as I heard, I started jumping for joy.  

On September 9th, I sat the exams and passed. I got into a good school with good people.  

Sometimes I feel that we shouldn’t give up so easily. We should carry on even if we know that we are not wanted by some people, because there are always others who love us and care about us.

Dimitra Kaisidi

Young Journalists

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