这一圈比下来，他们能得到第四名，似乎已经是很幸运的结果了。

露西看着手里的成绩单，说不上是什么心情，只是看着那些胜券在握，显然早有准备的学生，突然觉得有点索然无味。

这下真是为谁辛苦为谁甜...

露西staresattheresultssheetinfrontofher,amixofemotionsswirlinginside.Shecan‘tquiteputherfingeronit-isitdisappointment?Frustration?It‘sasifshe‘sbeenlivingadreamthatdidn‘tquiteliveuptoexpectations.

Sheglancesaroundtheroom,seeingstudentswhohadworkedtirelesslyforthismoment,theirnamesemblazonedontheresultssheetlikebadgesofhonor.TherewasAlex,whohadspentcountlesshoursstudyingundertheguidanceofthemostrenownedexpertsinthefield;Sarah,whoseunwaveringdedicationtohercrafthadpaidoffinspades;andJack,whosenaturaltalenthadbeennurturedbyhisfamily‘swealthandinfluence.

Meanwhile,shecouldn‘thelpbutfeelapangofresentment.Whydiditalwayshavetobelikethis?Whydidsomepeoplegettoreaptherewardswhileotherswereleftwithnothingbutscraps?

Asshescrolledthroughthelist,hereyeslandedononestudentinparticular-herself.Shehadputinjustasmucheffort,ifnotmore,thananyoneelse.Shehadsacrificedcountlesshoursofsleep,sociallife,andevenrelationshipstopursuethisdream.Andyet,shefoundherselfatthebottomofthelist.

Itwasn‘tthatshedidn‘twantit.Ohno,shewanteditmorethananythingintheworld.Butsomethingwasholdingherback.Somethingthatmadeherfeellikeshewasstuckonthesidelineswhileeveryoneelsegottobaskintheglory.

“Hey,L-Lucy,“avoicecalledoutfrombehindher.

Sheturnedtoseeoneofherclassmates,Rachel,standingbytheatchingasstudentsbegantoarrivefortheirresults.Rachel‘seyesmethers,andforamoment,theyjuststaredateachother.

“You‘renotgoingtofreakout,areyou?“Rachelasked,concernetchedonherface.

Lucysighed,feelingamixofemotionsbubblingupinsideher.“Idon‘tknow,“sheadmitted.“IfeellikeI‘vebeenworkingsohardfornothing.“

Rachelnoddedsympathetically.“You‘rejustnotseeingthebiggerpicture,“shesaidgently.“Thisisn‘taboutwinningorlosing-it‘saboutlearningandgrowing.Andyouwill,Lucy.You‘llgetthereeventually.“

Butastheywalkedoutoftheroomtogether,Lucycouldn‘tshakeoffthefeelingthatsomethingwasoff.Shehadalwaysbeentoldthathardworkanddedicationwouldpayoffintheend,butwhatifthatwasn‘ttrue?Whatifshejustwasn‘tgoodenough?

Astheywalkeddownthecorridor,Lucy‘smindbegantowander.Shethoughtaboutallthetimesshehadstayeduplatestudying,pouringoverancienttextsandpracticingspellsuntilherhandsached.Shethoughtaboutthesacrificesshehadmade-givingupsocialevents,skippingfamilygatherings,evenabandoninghobbiesthatbroughtherjoy.

Andforwhat?Soshecouldendupinthisposition-stuckonthebottomofthelist?

Asuddenrealizationhitherlikeatonofbricks.Itwasn‘taboutwinningorlosing;itwasaboutthejourneyitself.Thestruggles,thesetbacks,thedoubtsandfears-theywereallpartoftheprocess.

AsshelookedatRachel,Lucyfeltasparkofdeterminationignitewithinher.Shewasgoingtotakethismomentasanopportunitytolearn,togrow,andtoriseaboveherownlimitations.Shewasgoingtoturnherfocusinward,exploringthedepthsofherownpotentialanddiscoveringnewwaystoharnessherpower.

Andbesides,shecouldn‘tjustsitaroundmopingabout-whatwouldthatsaytoeveryoneelse?Thethoughtmadeherlaughwryly,andasshewalkedintothecafeteriawithRachelbyherside,sheknewthatthiswasjustthebeginningofanewchapterinherlife.