I was anxiously waiting for the results. “I practiced so hard” and I hoped I could get a reward. It was my first time attending an ice skating competition after the pandemic. It was early morning and I was in the middle of a great dream but then I felt a rough shake that woke me up. It was my mother, she told me to get ready and come downstairs at 6:30 a.m. to eat breakfast.

I put on my beautiful purple shimmery costume, skates, and purple makeup to compliment my costume, and my mom drove me for an entire one and a half hours for my one-and-a-half-minute ice performance. I had practiced every single day for thirty-minute long and it was hard to prepare for this competition. It was now my moment.

I was waiting patiently. It was almost my turn to perform. I took several deep breaths. Soon my group was called. After a few other people finished their performance, my name was called. It was my turn to go. My parents, friends, and coach cheered me on the ice. I was nervous and excited at the same time. 

However, when the familiar music started playing, I calmed myself down. I performed a nice sit spin, scratch spin, Lutz, and loop. Yes, I did it. Everyone clapped for me. At that moment, I almost cried. 

We waited patiently for the result. Finally, it was announced. I got second place with 1 point behind another skater. There were two judges who gave me higher scores than the first place skater, but the third judge gave me a much lower score. I felt like it was not fair, and I should have gotten first place. Not her. I was mad and I went to ask the third judge why for the same performance, she gave me such a different score than other judges. My mom came to comfort me, she said for skating spins, sometimes, things do not go as we expect. “That skater did a very nice performance, and she deserves the first place. Instead of unnecessary complaints, we will practice even harder. Maybe we could win the next competition,” my mom said. 

All the winners would take a picture after the competition. My mom encouraged me to shake hands with the first place skater, and say “nice job and congratulations.” It was very difficult for me to do that, especially when I saw everyone cheering for her and not me. I looked into my mom’s eyes and I heard my heart say, “do it,” I went close to her and shook hands with her. At the moment when I shook her hand, I controlled my emotions and learned how to handle the negative feeling. At that moment, my heart told me “You win.” I didn’t win this competition, but I won myself. A win much more important than any competition.