Source: https://bit.ly/3yhpm0r
As I racked my brain for ideas of my mother’s birthday present, I remembered the time when I received an email from my dream school, Cheltenham Ladies College.
It was night time on February 1st when we got the notice. Huddled together on the sofa, we sat arm in arm with each other, breath held. The impenetrable silence held suspense. My heart pounded, waiting for the announcement. Would I make it? The thought of it brought tears of joy to my eyes. But what if I didn’t? Well, it was worth a try, at least I had secured a place at Benenden. We watched the screen intently, as we read through the letter on the television screen:
Dear Mr Chan & Mrs Chan Choi,
We are delighted to offer Danielle a boarding place in LC1 for September 2021. Danielle performed well in the entrance examinations, she engaged positively during our virtual meeting and we have received very promising feedback form her school. Congratulations Danielle!...
As I read it through, I heard gasps of delight from my parents, who sat on either side of me. I had to read it through five times before I really believed it. Without realising it, I had stared transfixed at the screen for two whole minutes, incredulity etched upon every feature on my face. I made it! My parents beamed at me, their eyes wet and tearful with glee, smiling. On the whole, the scene was indeed quite wet. As mum wept her eyes for the fifth time, she looked at me. “Your hard work paid off in the end, didn’t it?” I couldn’t help but suppress a small grin. I remembered the examination preparations the day before. The exercise paper had said that I was to complete 25 questions in 8 minutes, which was totally impossible. When I entered the examination centre, I felt relaxed somehow, no sign of a flip in my stomach, nor sweaty palms. I was determined to do well. My father had spent a lot of his time devoted to helping me with math, algebra, multiplication, coordinates, etc…. All this time, we were hoping to obtain a place at CLC, and we have finally done it. The feeling of success and achievement had lingered in me for so long. It was not just like winning a competition, it was like a sense of indescribable relief, wishing for a goal and achieving it. The only time I had felt like this was when I had stepped onto the stage, holding my prefect badge and pinning it to my school uniform. Now that I stopped to think about it, it was my mum’s idea of letting me go to boarding school. We had been to the UK to visit CLC. After the experience, I have decided that it was my dream school and my goal. I was told that it was one of the best boarding schools for girls in the UK. My mother, who had printed out all the worksheets for me. My mother, who kindly bought exercise books for me to practise. Thanks mum.
Now, back to the present. Writing this, I am merely two days away from moving to Cheltenham. I would definitely miss my parents, my brother, Baby and Bow Bow; but most of all, my school and my friends. My school has provided me with education and given me a place for happiness. They have taught me that students should take charge of their own learning; respect and value the time you have left at school, be responsible, be resilient; have integrity and care in your heart; work in harmony. My school has supplied me with friends I will never forget, knowledgeable and caring teachers. Singapore International School has ensured me to have the best time I have at primary. I am now moving to Secondary and look forward to it. Success Inspires Success. Thanks mum. Belated Happy Birthday :)
Comments