Thursday 12 March 2015

Announcement day - Ellen!

I had been awake since half past seven, sitting with my phone in my hand, waiting for it to ring so the wait would be over. The group chat message started buzzing and everyone started messaging asking when we were getting the call and wondering if anyone had been given theirs already yet. I waited (rather impatiently). I kept checking, thinking that all of a sudden my phone wasn't going to ring or light up when they tried to call and I would miss it. of course, that wouldn't happen but you always think of the negatives when you're nervous.

Wednesday 18th Feb - the day that I had far too much on yet all I was thinking about was that one call. I had a curling competition that day too - first game at 10 so I couldn't really hand around procrastinating. I also then had the trouble of remembering what number I had put on my application for them to contact me - it seemed like years since we first filled out the online application - so it was all hands on deck at home too with manning the phones.


Ten o'clock came and I had to head out onto the ice for my first game of the day. My sister came to watch too so she was on phone duty and Dad had stayed at home in case I had put the house number on my application - memory like a sieve, its never good - everyone felt the pressure, I had knots in my stomach and I kept looking at my sister for any sign of my phone ringing but there was nothing, 


The morning came and went and there was no phone call to any of the applicants. All eleven of us were total stress heads. Then one o'clock came. I think that was when the first phone call was made. 


My phone rang at quarter past. I cried before I even answered the phone. Poor Graeme,  giving me the news, having to deal with me crying down the phone to him. My mum and sister thought I hadn't got it because I let out this huge cry when he told me I was successful but then my Dad came through and I gave him a positive nod and he knew exactly what I meant. All three of them were absolutely buzzing - so proud they kept telling me. 


Although I did feel really bad knowing that two years ago my sister was in the exact same emotional state as myself yet under totally different circumstances - sadly she unfortunately never got the scholarship and she was devastated - we all were.


I now knew that I was going but I didn't know who with - the most tense wait of my life! We had made a group chat on Facebook which was how we found out who had got it and when the phone calls were made. Joanna was in another uni interview and missed her phone call - typical! So I then had to go on and play my second match of the day, on a high knowing I was off to America - the concrete jungle where dreams are made ;) - but with no idea who I was going with. Thankfully by the time my game had finished, so had Joanna's interview and the message had been sent - It was lil Miss Barrie who was joining me on this amazing opportunity!


A 'Congratulations' card came through the door and a lot of tears - happy ones of course - was let out over the phone to various relatives. I honestly could  not believe that this opportunity was mine. I knew straight away that I was not going to let it go to waste and I was going to make the most of each moment that comes with the: build up, journey and living life out there.


Dreams really had been made and I wasn't even in the country yet!