Submitted by FpNotFound t3_y9ux05 in tifu
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For as long as I can remember, I've been dreaming of going to Spain as an exchange student.
A couple of years ago, I became fascinated with Spain thanks to its culture and the online friends I made. Going as an exchange student would help me get into a good college.
I'm now in 11th grade, and I finally managed to get a spot in an exchange student programme directed to students interested in studying in Spain for a semester.
I was able to convince my parents about it and we started the payments this month.
The thing is that I am on the robotics team, which attends regional and world FIRST tournaments. I am in the programming area, and this year I decided to apply as a driver in this off-season. I didn't think I would get in, but in the end I did, and I participated in a competition in which my coaches saw that I had very good potential and talent in the area.
On the third day of the off-season tournament, my general coach pulled me aside and asked me if I could cancel my exchange programme and stay for the new season to participate in the world tournament. I refused since that programme has been a dream for me. However, he told me about the possibility of getting a scholarship at my dream college just by having my participation in a FIRST competition on my resume, plus that would make me the first female driver on the team.
He managed to convince me, and I started the process of getting my money back and cancelling the programme.
I had never regretted my decision until today... which was my deadline to cancel my exchange programme.
57 minutes ago, I entered the page and, right before I could click cancel, I broke down in tears.
There was no turning back
I've been sobbing for the last hour non-stop.
Have I done the right thing?
I regret my decision, but part of me knows that I would have regretted it just as much if my decision had been the other way around.
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//Hey ppl This is an eddit:
i forgot to mention that my school requires students to participate in an exchange program to be able to graduate :c
I'm already trying to convince my school principal to open a programme for fall 2023 (which would be my last chance to go since January-July I have FIRST competitions).
TL;DR:
I've been dreaming of going as an exchange student to Spain. I was accepted into a programme, but my robotics coach persuaded me to stay because he believes I have the potential to compete in a world tournament. TIFU by giving up my exchange student dream for a spot in a robotics team