As Ethan waited for the judges to arrive, he couldn't shake off the feeling of nervousness. He had worked so hard on his project, and he knew it was good. But what if the judges didn't like it? What if he messed up his presentation?
Just as Ethan was starting to feel more confident, he saw his parents arrive. They were beaming with pride, and Ethan's mom was holding a camera, ready to take photos. Ethan's heart swelled with love and gratitude, but he also felt a twinge of anxiety. He knew his parents were expecting great things from him, and the pressure was mounting.
As the judges began to make their way around the room, Ethan's nerves reached a boiling point. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but his mind was racing. What if he didn't win? What if he disappointed his parents?
The judges arrived at Ethan's project, and he launched into his presentation. He spoke confidently, sharing his passion for history and highlighting the key points of his project. The judges listened intently, asking thoughtful questions and taking notes.
But just as Ethan was finishing up his presentation, disaster struck. His multimedia presentation froze, and the screen went black. Ethan's heart sank, and he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He tried to recover, but his words stumbled out in a jumbled mess.
The judges politely smiled and thanked him for his presentation, but Ethan knew he'd blown it. He felt like he'd let himself and his parents down. As he watched the judges move on to the next project, Ethan felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. Maybe he wasn't good enough after all.
Mrs. Johnson noticed Ethan's distress and came over to him. "It's okay, Ethan," she said softly. "It's not about winning or losing. It's about sharing your passion and learning."
But Ethan couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment. He had given it his all, and it hadn't been enough. As he walked away from his project, he felt tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. He didn't want to cry, not now, not in front of everyone. But he couldn't help the emotions that were welling up inside him.
Ethan's parents came over to him, trying to offer words of encouragement. "We're so proud of you, Ethan," his mom said. "You did your best, and that's all that matters."
But Ethan just shook his head, feeling like he'd let everyone down. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now. He just wanted to be alone and process his emotions.