Year 8 student at King Edward VI Five Ways School, Bususu Chen, shares her experience of becoming a finalist at the Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition, earlier this year:
It was a dazzling and breathless moment when the news came that I was to be a finalist!
I was told that it was extremely hard to get into and I would never have believed I could get into the finals at all if not for the wonderful support from my piano teachers, my parents and the ever-encouraging remarks from other relatives and friends: so thank you and immense appreciation to you all!
And here's the best bit: I did not win the competition. What?! As many of you would exclaim, How is that excellent? But I have come to understand that it is not winning that matters, it is trying and attending that counts. Getting together with some of the best musicians around my age has been a delight and pleasure. So remember, it's not all about holding a golden cup with handles on it but the golden opportunity that you have been granted-and most of all, the chance to experience (the shaking of nerves, the anticipation of waiting, the relief of finishing, the slight disappointment, the gratitude of chance, the opportunity to meet new people) and have something to work towards as your next step.
This was an emotional time for me and I have learnt the true meaning of success. It's not measured by whether you won or not, but how far you have come. Looking back, I really have had quite a journey.
