3

To never let fear stop her from pursuing her dreams.

Elizabeth and her dad were in the midst of preparing breakfast when they heard a knock on the door. Her dad went to answer it, and Elizabeth could hear the faint sound of a man's voice. After a moment, her dad returned with the newspaper in hand and a bright smile on her face.

"I've got your paper, Lizzie," her dad said, handing her the paper and returning to her cooking.

Elizabeth scanned the front page of the newspaper, taking in the headlines of politics, sports, and local news before she came across an article that caught her eye. It was a piece about an international guitar competition that was going to be held in just a few months. As she read through the details, a feeling of excitement began to grow in her chest.

"This guitar competition looks amazing," Elizabeth said, her eyes glimmering with excitement.

Her dad turned to her with a quizzical look on her face. "What competition?"

Elizabeth pointed to the article and excitedly explained everything she had just read. However, upon seeing her dad's worried look, her excitement began to dwindle.

"I don't know, dad I'm not sure I'm ready for something like this. The last time I performed, I fainted on stage," Elizabeth said hesitantly, her eyes downcast.

Her dad stopped what he was doing and approached Elizabeth. "Oh, honey. I know you had a tough time back then, but you can't let that fear hold you back. You're a talented musician, and I know you could do great things if you just give yourself a chance."

Elizabeth could feel the warmth of her dad's embrace, and with those few simple words, her confidence began to grow once more. She felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and she knew without a doubt that she would enter that competition and give it her all.

"Thank you, Dad," Elizabeth said, smiling wide. "I'm going to do this, and I'm going to make you proud."

With newfound determination and a heart full of courage, Elizabeth set out to hone her skills and conquer her fears. She knew that she still had a long way to go, but with her grandmother by her side and the support of those around her, she was ready to take on the world and prove to everyone that she was capable of achieving greatness.