"We present the Annual School Play 'Fiddler on the Roof'" - setback

"We present the Annual School Play 'Fiddler on the Roof'". The master of the ceremony said this with great enthusiasm and the play proceeded. I was heavily dressed, the makeup was just right and I was all set to go to the stage to give the dress rehearsal my best shot. However things didn't go as I had expected them to. At the end of the rehearsal my desire to receive tons of praise was met with sarcasm and disapproval. " Jane was poorly casted. Unlike other rehearsal days, the last one she did was so disappointing. What if she ends up ruining the whole play?" people said. Soon my director broke the news to me that I knew was coming after a disappointing performance. I would no longer be performing on the main day. He asked me to perform on the day when the school would be watching the play but not the day that the parents and VIPS were invited. I was devastated. One bad performance and suddenly I was not good enough! I thought of quitting altogether. The actor who was also playing my role could perform on both the days. But I had given so much for the play: long hours after school, days of memorizing lines. I didn't do all that to give up at the end and give up my dream.

I thought to myself that no matter what happened I had to prove to people and myself that I could do well. I rehearsed and practiced by myself. The final day arrived in no time. As expected I heard lots of comments but I didn't bother because deep down I felt confident. It was time for me to go on the stage. I felt confident yet butterflies churned in my stomach. However, I went in and attempted to do my best. The play had a sad ending but for me, a sadder one for I feared what would people say. Apparently, I didn't have reason to fear. People came to me and told me how well I had done. Likewise, those people who watched the play for both the days said "You were the better Tzeitel". My director came to me and said "You were the star of the show." I couldn't have been any happier.

That day I realized that life is a series of such events. It's a climb and a tough one. In high school the prefect council was an achievement but came with several responsibilities. In addition to that we were assigned to different club activities. Despite the busy schedules, I was performing well in my internal semesters. However, my A-level finals did not go in my favour. I felt disillusioned. My parents were disappointed too; it was not what they had expected of me. At this point I felt the same as when I had spoilt my performance on the dress rehearsal. Then I thought had I given up on myself or pulled out I would never have known what I was capable of. Today, I have the same feeling, a feeling to shine and show myself and the others that I can and I will. If I quit now I know I am never going to make it to the top.

The setback has taught me how to handle failure. I am glad that I have learnt to see criticism not as a bad thing, but as something which helps me to focus on improvement. I know it's just a temporary change in my direction to set me straight for my next success. It has made me more confident with stronger resolve and bigger dreams. Despite what happened, I continued to dream and that to me made all the difference. It gave me a positive outlook towards life. There is so much to learn and so much to get done. I look to the academic rigor and dynamic social atmosphere of college to be the best I can become. In days to come I might fall but I will just get up dust myself and walk with my head high.

However, things didn't go as I had expected them to.

At the end of the rehearsal, my desire to receive tons of praise was met with sarcasm and disapproval.

" Jane was poorly casted .

But I had given so much for the play: long hours after school, and days of memorizing lines.

I didn't do all that just to give up my dream in the end.

As expected, I heard lots of comments but they didn't bother me because deep down I felt confident.

It was time for me to go on the stage.

However, my A-level finals did not go in my favour. I felt disillusioned.---What do you mean by this? What had happened?

It has made me more confident, with stronger resolve and bigger dreams.

In days to come I might fall but I will just get up dust myself off, and walk with my head high.

Were you saying that your grades got bad but then you made them better from the lesson you learned during the play? It isn't clear, what you're saying about your grades. Good luck in school and have fun!

:)

thank you susan. actully i was trying to relate my present situation that is getting the bad grades with the play. its like i am trying to tell the college to give me a second chance even thoght i dont have good grades in my final exams. do you think the essay is good?

Great insight!

In days to come I might fall but I will just get up dust myself and walk with my head high.
---This sentence is a little cliche... like, too simplistic. In fact, I think you kept writing for a long time after you made the point of the essay. If you dig a little deeper, you can find a great idea to share with the reader -- some insight that will help the reader to better cope with failure sometime. Everyone knows we need to use it as motivation to improve, but maybe you can give another idea about it ... an idea that will add a new dimension to the essay.

:-)