My name is Aditi, and I will never forget the day I became the first person in my family to win a medal in the CREST Mathematics Olympiad.
It all started when my mathematics teacher told us about the CREST Mathematics Olympiad. I loved solving maths problems, so I decided to participate. My parents were very happy and encouraged me to prepare well.
For several weeks, I practiced different types of questions. Some were easy, while others were quite challenging. Whenever I made a mistake, I tried to understand it and solve it again.
Finally, the day of the online exam arrived.
I sat in front of my computer with my pencil, rough notebook and water bottle beside me. As I waited for the exam to begin, I suddenly became very nervous. My hands were sweating, and my heart was beating fast.
"What if I forget everything?" I thought.
My mother noticed that I was worried and said, "Aditi, don't be nervous. You have prepared well. Just stay calm and give your best."
Her words gave me confidence.
The exam began.
I looked at the first question. It was a little tricky, and for a moment, I felt nervous again. I took a deep breath and started thinking carefully. Slowly, I began solving the questions one by one.
Some questions were easy, but some made me think hard. Whenever I got stuck, I skipped the question and returned to it later. I kept checking my answers carefully because I did not want to make silly mistakes.
Before I knew it, the time was almost over.
I quickly checked my answers one last time and clicked the Submit button.
"Finally!" I said with relief.
But then came the hardest part - waiting for the results.
Days passed, and I kept wondering about my score. One afternoon, the results were announced. I quickly opened the result page and entered my details.
My heart started beating fast again.
Then the result appeared.
CREST Mathematics Olympiad - Medal Winner!
I stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Mom! I won a medal!" I shouted.
My mother came running and hugged me. My father was equally proud and congratulated me with a big smile.
That day was very special because I was the first person in my family to win a medal in a Mathematics Olympiad. My small achievement brought so much happiness and pride to my family.
I realized that success is not about never feeling nervous. It is about staying strong and continuing to try even when you are scared.
The medal on my desk reminds me of that nervous girl who once sat in front of a computer, wondering if she could do it.
She did.
And she created a first for our family.
