Article January 1, 2001 ISSUE

I missed registration...

by Ana Carolina T. Santos—São Paulo, Brazil

When I was 15 I decided to apply to a technical school in São Paulo where I could study graphic design. I had to pass an entrance exam, and since there were almost 3,000 candidates for 60 openings, I was very happy to have passed and to have been accepted at the school.

The students had to register on a certain day at the end of the month. The day before registration my mother let me sleep over at a friend's house. The next day, I didn't remember it was registration day. I spent the whole day at my friend's and, although I felt very anxious, I didn't pay too much attention to that feeling.

When I realized my mistake I felt destroyed. I went to the school with my mother, but was told that those who had failed to register on the assigned day had lost their place. My mother didn't criticize me. Instead, she suggested I call a Christian Science practitioner who could help me pray about the situation.

The practitioner reminded me that forgetfulness and being distracted were no part of me because I am a daughter of God. God is the infinite Mind of the universe — a mind that doesn't forget. And because I am a creation and expression of this Mind, I really can't forget either. We also talked about how God puts each of us in his or her right place. Nobody could take my place. And I couldn't take anybody else's place.

A few days later I went to the school again, but I got the same answer I'd gotten before — that I'd lost my place in the registration process. The practitioner encouraged me to continue to trust God and suggested I talk to the school coordinator when I felt inspired to.

We continued to pray. Classes had already been going on for one month when I thought I should inquire at the school again. And on that very day I was able to register because someone had dropped out.

Since then I've been more alert, and I haven't missed any deadlines for turning in work. I still need to improve as far as being tardy goes. Now, at 18, I'm still working on it.

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January 1, 2001
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