I tried fighting the temptation to sleep in as it was pouring outside but failed as any ordinary human
would do. The weather made me want to tuck in a little bit longer but my mother just wouldn't let
that happen. “Get up!! It's almost sunrise and you're still in bed like as if time would stop for you,”
my mother yelled turning the air conditioner off and leaving the room door open. That wasn’t
enough to wake the little sleepy head in me hence I dozed off again burying myself under the sheets.
I was running towards my crush when my mother woke me up, again, but this time she turned the
lights on in my room.
“If you want to add to your little trophy collection you better get going young lady,” my
mother said slyly in attempt to wake me up one last time. To no one's surprise it worked because
that is the only thing that kept me going. What else would you expect from a 12-year-old that loves
collecting trophies and certificates regardless of winning or losing, though this 12-year-old won
almost all competitions she participated. Being competitive, for me it was equivalent breathing. It
was a must for me. And this particular competition was no exception.
Approximately 5 months of training for this big day. My first public speaking competition.
After having my usual 45 minutes hot shower at 5 in the morning, I quickly started to get dressed. I
took my tie and I paused to look at myself in the mirror. “This is the day you have been waiting for
since the day you started the term. If you don't win, you can kiss that pride goodbye,” I warned the
mirror. The mirror in return just smirked back at me whispering “you're no loser babe.”
The next few hours were a blur. I kept practicing my script that I almost forgot how to
converse normally. "Next up let's give it up for Laksshana!,” the host announced. Stage fear isn't a
big deal for me. It never was. All of those dance performances from a young age of 3 had trained me
well to be confident in front of people. I took a deep breath in, “hmm,” and exhaled through my
mouth, “haaa.” I felt as if I was floating as I walked up to the stage facing hundreds of expressions,
smiling, staring, anxious, confused and some were just emotionless. I began my speech.
It was smooth like butter until there was a commotion at the back of the auditorium. My
precious little brain got distracted and decided to push me off the edge of anxiety. Standing there
with sweaty hands, I trembled almost falling to my knees. I cursed at myself “are you kidding me?
You decide you let me down now!?” I cursed at those who created the commotion “are you guys
seriously trying to test me right now? Can't it happen in about 2 minutes when I'm done with my
turn? Ugh.”
Just when I thought I'm doomed, I had an idea. I braced myself for what is going to happen
next and started talking spontaneously about the topic. The panel of judges, one with the nerdy
glasses kept held his chin the whole time listening attentively while the other two nodded and took
notes. “Mhm I am doing a great job,” I imagined patting and praising myself. “As a well-educated
society, we are responsible for keeping kindness alive. Thank you,” I sighed a sigh of relief, deep and
loud, satisfied with what I had done for the day. The teachers who trained me, Ms Vimala, was
extremely impressed with my whole ‘finding an instant solution’ act and decided to treat me with 2
cups of my favourite Baskin Robin's ice cream which I had so much fun devouring like a hungry little
monster.
The competitions went on and up until the runner up was announced, I was just chilling in
my spot knowing it wasn’t going to be my name that was called. I was so confident about losing, I
just sulked in reading the agenda for the day that I did not even notice my name being called as the
winner. Well, as usual. Though that was totally uncalled for. The next few moments were a blur and
when I got down the stage after getting another one of my golden trophies, my teacher hugged me
would do. The weather made me want to tuck in a little bit longer but my mother just wouldn't let
that happen. “Get up!! It's almost sunrise and you're still in bed like as if time would stop for you,”
my mother yelled turning the air conditioner off and leaving the room door open. That wasn’t
enough to wake the little sleepy head in me hence I dozed off again burying myself under the sheets.
I was running towards my crush when my mother woke me up, again, but this time she turned the
lights on in my room.
“If you want to add to your little trophy collection you better get going young lady,” my
mother said slyly in attempt to wake me up one last time. To no one's surprise it worked because
that is the only thing that kept me going. What else would you expect from a 12-year-old that loves
collecting trophies and certificates regardless of winning or losing, though this 12-year-old won
almost all competitions she participated. Being competitive, for me it was equivalent breathing. It
was a must for me. And this particular competition was no exception.
Approximately 5 months of training for this big day. My first public speaking competition.
After having my usual 45 minutes hot shower at 5 in the morning, I quickly started to get dressed. I
took my tie and I paused to look at myself in the mirror. “This is the day you have been waiting for
since the day you started the term. If you don't win, you can kiss that pride goodbye,” I warned the
mirror. The mirror in return just smirked back at me whispering “you're no loser babe.”
The next few hours were a blur. I kept practicing my script that I almost forgot how to
converse normally. "Next up let's give it up for Laksshana!,” the host announced. Stage fear isn't a
big deal for me. It never was. All of those dance performances from a young age of 3 had trained me
well to be confident in front of people. I took a deep breath in, “hmm,” and exhaled through my
mouth, “haaa.” I felt as if I was floating as I walked up to the stage facing hundreds of expressions,
smiling, staring, anxious, confused and some were just emotionless. I began my speech.
It was smooth like butter until there was a commotion at the back of the auditorium. My
precious little brain got distracted and decided to push me off the edge of anxiety. Standing there
with sweaty hands, I trembled almost falling to my knees. I cursed at myself “are you kidding me?
You decide you let me down now!?” I cursed at those who created the commotion “are you guys
seriously trying to test me right now? Can't it happen in about 2 minutes when I'm done with my
turn? Ugh.”
Just when I thought I'm doomed, I had an idea. I braced myself for what is going to happen
next and started talking spontaneously about the topic. The panel of judges, one with the nerdy
glasses kept held his chin the whole time listening attentively while the other two nodded and took
notes. “Mhm I am doing a great job,” I imagined patting and praising myself. “As a well-educated
society, we are responsible for keeping kindness alive. Thank you,” I sighed a sigh of relief, deep and
loud, satisfied with what I had done for the day. The teachers who trained me, Ms Vimala, was
extremely impressed with my whole ‘finding an instant solution’ act and decided to treat me with 2
cups of my favourite Baskin Robin's ice cream which I had so much fun devouring like a hungry little
monster.
The competitions went on and up until the runner up was announced, I was just chilling in
my spot knowing it wasn’t going to be my name that was called. I was so confident about losing, I
just sulked in reading the agenda for the day that I did not even notice my name being called as the
winner. Well, as usual. Though that was totally uncalled for. The next few moments were a blur and
when I got down the stage after getting another one of my golden trophies, my teacher hugged me
