Sudden attention

At school, teachers or directors I barely know are suddenly congratulating me. Others tell me I wrote a very nice piece, and they voted for me. I’ve been invited to have tea with the British Ambassador. I was invited for The English Breakfast Radio (I wasn’t chosen, but my best friend Rebecca is, so all listen to it April 9th to the AmsterdamRadio!), and Thursday I will be going to Amsterdam for a little interview.

Why all this attention? Why all this fuss? Why are these people inviting me for things, or congratulating me?
It is all the BBC Awards.
People read my essay, and feel this sudden urge to really have to tell me it was okay. They have this need within them, to assure me that they liked to read it. To be honest, I’m being a bit sarcastic, but actually it is quite nice to have people suddenly saying these things to me.
And this interview is for the Finals, on April 10th. They make a little film interview that is shown at the Finals. Really funny, I will see my face at quite a big screen, and probably be really ashamed of myself. But it is all part of being on the shortlist, so I will survive.
At last, but definitely not least: tea with the British Ambassador. April 9th I will have tea with the Finalists of both the Writing and the Speaking Awards, and meet the British Ambassador in Real Life. Quite a chance, don’t you think? Fortunately I’m going with Rebecca; I wouldn’t have dared on my own.

So, the BBC Public Speakers and Young Writers Awards bring me some opportunities. I try to use as many as possible to have a great time.
You know, the BBC Awards is one great adventure, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.