How to accept not being accepted into a talent show that you worked hard for

Hangouts Student Life
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I auditioned for a talent show and couldn’t get in. I was doing a Michael Jackson dance and out of all the performers I was the only one dancing. there is is also a pianist and apparently he got in. I trained really hard for this talent show and I cant believe I couldnt get accepted. I suffered from fatigue at some point and sometimes I endured scoldings from my mom and that was tears while practising but I didn’t give up until I heard the results

I am currently sec 4 and they started this talent show for the first time in the school’s history and I couldnt get in. they were also taking into consideration the time and mine is actually just the shortest (about 1 min) but for some reason they didnt accept it.

I was offered to perform for prom which I took up but I still feel upset as I used up blood, sweat and tears literally just to try to perform in front of an entire school (my sec 4 cohort most of them is judgemental so I preferred the entire school instead of just them on their own)

how do I accept this

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Hello @undying_sun it’s completely understandable that you feel upset right now. You poured your heart into this performance. You trained hard, danced with passion, endured physical fatigue, emotional stress, and even harsh scoldings. You kept going through all of it because this performance meant so much to you. To give that much of yourself and then not be accepted into the talent show, especially when it was the first one in your school’s history, is deeply painful. It’s even more frustrating knowing you were the only dancer and that your act was unique, yet still not chosen. Your disappointment is valid.

But even though you didn’t get the result you wanted, it doesn’t erase the effort, passion, and resilience you showed. You completed your routine, you never gave up, and you were noticed enough to be offered a performance at prom. That opportunity still matters. It means someone saw value in what you do. It may not feel like a fair trade, and that’s okay to admit. Sometimes these decisions are based on things outside your control like timing, variety, or subjective preferences. And it can feel unfair, but it does not reflect your talent or worth. What you’ve done already proves you are someone who shows up, even when it’s tough. That is a strength many people don’t have.

It might help to remind yourself that acceptance doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t hurt. It means allowing the disappointment to exist, without letting it define you. You can be proud of what you did and still feel sad that it didn’t go as planned. Over time, try to reframe this experience not as a failure, but as a step in your journey. You gave everything you had and that matters. This doesn’t mean the end of your story as a performer; it’s just one moment in a much larger path ahead. You still have prom, and more importantly, you still have your passion. What you’ve learned from this about perseverance, emotional strength, and commitment will carry you further than any one event.

This hurt, but it doesn’t define you. It’s part of something bigger you’re still building.

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Hi @undying_sun , firstly, just want to say I really love ur username, its such a beautiful representation of, if I can say, your undying passion and brightness​:sun::sunflower:!!

Aww thanks for sharing about ur current struggles :smiling_face_with_tear:. That sounds really tough, especially when you are a student and feel that you could not get in into something you really wanted to do. I gets that feeling, the feeling of perhaps, not being enough, having to endure all the scoldings although u felt in your heart that u can do it and u want to do it but still not getting the end result u want :smiling_face_with_tear:. That really is tough :sad_but_relieved_face:.

However, I just want to acknowledge all your efforts and that you really did so much in order to get in :smiling_face_with_tear:! That is so brave and I really love your passion and enthusiasm for dance and performing :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:! Not everyone can have that talent and love like you do and I totally respect you for that :grinning_face:!

Just wanna reaffirm and reassure you as well, that this one loss does not define who you are. You are a good dancer, a brave soul and have a passionate spirit in which not everyone can have like you. Don’t give up and know that this one closed door does not mean you will receive other close doors. Continue to bring out that firey passion in you until people cannot help but recognise and acknowledge your talent :sunflower:! You got this!

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Hey @undying_sun I can only imagine the disappointment that you’re feeling right now over this matter, and understandably so. From what you’ve shared, I can tell you’ve put your heart and soul into prepping for this performance, persevering through the fatigue and brushing away criticism, all for the talent show.

I want to affirm you for the immense effort that you’ve put in — it’s not easy. The fact that you pushed through makes this an accomplishment you should be proud of, the dance you’ve managed to practice and master cannot be denied nor undercut by anybody else.

It’s okay to be disappointed over the results; after all, you’ve given everything to this performance, and being unable to perform onstage will feel deeply upsetting. Take your time to process these emotions and instead of rejecting the disappointment you’re feeling, accept it as what it is.

I can sense that you still have a strong desire to showcase your talent onstage to the people around you. You can give yourself some time to think, what do you want to achieve through this performance?

Is it to express a side of you that no one knows about but you really want to share with the world? Or could it be as a dedication to specific people that you hold very dear to you?

These questions can help you think whether performing for prom would be suitable. Please do keep in mind that you shouldn’t see declining this opportunity as a waste of the effort that you’ve put in, but consider it mainly for whether you would enjoy performing at prom.

And if not, maybe there are some other people that you would like to showcase your talent to, be it strangers or friends. In that case, you can go seek other opportunities to perform in those contexts as well (it doesn’t necessarily have to be onstage!)

I hope my response is helpful to you, and jiayou! This talent show alone does not define you; I’m sure if you put in the work, you will excel on other platforms too! :heart:

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hello, thank you for sharing. I could see that you put in a lot of effort into the performance, and your feelings are valid. To be able to show your passion for dance, takes quiet strength, which you have shown :tulip:

I understand it can be disappointing for the results, but you can see it as a stepping stone, an experience. Take care OP :heart_hands:

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Hi, competitions are bad. I have been through a lot of competitions before and there are definitely ones that are rigged for marketing. Not saying urs is rigged but everyone puts in effort in the competition.
This is what i did. I started putting my stuff up on social media with the right hashtags. That is great for your dance stuff. Just be aware that people are truthful, nice and mean on the internet, so you have to prep ur feelings for it