hay.. last two weeks, i participated in the elimination round of 'Math Masters' (a math contest among different schools in our city), from which a representative will be chosen to compete in the finals.. Our school sent a group of 13 for the eliminations.. two were unable to attend because of their retreat in Baguio that day. hence, ten other colleagues with me.. we went to the host school and we all felt a bit of pressure but I didn't take the competition too seriously. but since there is a generous cash prize of 30,000 for the "Math Master", i might as well give a good effort to get the lone slot for the finals.. i brought a small math book and some modules which i intended at first to be some sort of props.. but then, i saw everyone studying, so i made use of my materials. thinking that the questions would be hard as hell, i crammed for my advantage, as everyone had been doing during the pre-contest moments.. we entered the auditorium and took our assigned seats.. i was "isolated" in my seat, because the two students who were supposed to be on my right and my left were absent..

brief introduction.. the questions would be given in a sheet where a portion for our answers was also provided.. three categories of ten items: easy, average, difficult.. points are: 1 for each easy item, 3 for the average and 5 for the difficult.. begin.. easy round.. well, it was really easy.. i was confident i had ten points added for my total score.. average round.. no big trouble.. though it was so dumb of me that time to think that an item had no answer & so i left it blank.. oh, i just wasted an opportunity..
difficult round came.. well, the round mentioned it.. difficult, though i was able to answer most items.. i just can't forget the first item.. as i was going about the question, i read the part "geometric progression". and i did that "mathematical technique" for my solution.. I can't figure out an answer.. i read the question again and again, analyzed it, & spent several minutes computing to no avail.. in the end, i chose an option i never thought was reasonably correct (well, all the other choices also were not)..

we gathered after and shared the aftershocks.. geez, i was surprised to learn (almost) everyone but me got item #1 in the difficult round!.. not to mention, some got the answers quite easily! what?!?! how?!?!.. i was really upset.. (i was serious already ) especially, when i discovered that the answer asked for the item was based on "ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION"!!! Holy cow, i didn't read that! I went over the question before and always read "GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION"! Shit.. i just lose 5 points..

Announcement na.. ahmm.. Of course, I was not the top scorer!.. Nanghinayang talaga ako honestly! Wala na ang pag-asa for the 30K! Acceptance was easy naman kahit ganun..

Last week, nareceive ng Math teacher ko ang final results.. and guess what.. inannounce niya na second ako! hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako in a way o maiinis! kasi, dun ko lalong naramdaman ang panghihinayang sa bullshit na ITEM #1! at ang score ko, 77/90.. two points shy para mag-tie kami ng topplacer! badtrip.. talaga.. to think na 5 points ang #1 item na yun, tapos may isa pa akong blank item worth 3 points! crap..

that was the time i felt na it really was not for me.. I guess, God willed it so.. kasi before high school eliminations, yung kapatid ko ang naging representative ng school sa grade school division!.. galing namin, hehe, joke.. yeah, he has also the chance for the same amount of prize.. well, happy na ako for him.. my parents encouraged me na galingan ko rin para dalawa kaming may chance for the "gold & glory".. unfortunately, sabi ni God, "isa lang ang pwede sa inyong magkapatid.. give chance to others." hehe.. pero sayang pa rin, chance ko na para mabigyan ng pride ang my beloved school.. at syempre makahawak ng pera na earned on my own hard work..
DESTINY showed it.. if it's not for me, it's not for me..
i'll just coach my brother na lang..

please share same experiences in this thread.. thanks..