Read the passage, then answer: In the passage, what is the author’s attitude toward the science fair?

I used to think the science fair was a parade of perfect posters made by students with perfect parents. When my teacher announced it again this year, I felt my stomach tighten. I imagined tripping over my own words while judges stared at my messy graphs.

My project began with a small question: do different soils hold water differently? The experiment sounded simple until I tried to measure the same cup of water three times. My notes turned into scribbles, and my “results” looked like they were arguing with each other. For a week, I wanted to quit.

Then something unexpected happened. I stayed after school, and Mr. Alvarez showed me how to repeat trials and label containers clearly. He did not fix my project; he fixed my method. Slowly, the numbers stopped wobbling, and the pattern became visible.

On fair day, I still felt nervous, but the nerves were lighter. When a judge asked why one soil drained faster, I could explain without guessing. I even enjoyed listening to other students describe their mistakes, because they sounded like real scientists.

I did not win a ribbon, and I did not need one. The science fair was not a contest of perfection. It was a lesson in patience, and I am strangely grateful for it.