Alyssa Shelton found that out the right way.
The 16-year-old has been selected for the New Zealand team to compete at the Perth International Step competition.
It will be the first time she has represented her country and receiving the news proved to be an overwhelming moment.
``I was so excited when I found out, I like cried,'' she said.
``I was not expecting to make a New Zealand team or anything.''
Step refers to the grades in which the gymnasts compete and Shelton will compete in step nine, the second-highest.
Having been involved with the New Zealand development squad, she had been to several intense training camps prior to selection.
She then had a trial competition in Christchurch and a win on the first day won her selection in the team.
``They hadn't officially announced the team, but I had people telling me I probably would've made it.
``I didn't want to believe it until I knew for sure. Then I found out about five days later.''
The event from August 30 to September 2 has attracted competitors from around the world.
That would make things interesting, although having not been to an international competition before, it was a step into the unknown, she said.
``I don't know what to expect.
``I'm just expecting a whole lot of people and we're all from different places so we'll all have different styles of gymnastics.''
A year 12 pupil at Otago Girls' High School, Shelton trains 18 hours a week over five days each week.
Her favourite discipline is the beam and that is normally where she gets her highest score - although it can also be the easiest to mess up.
The weekend's Otago championship was her last competition before leaving and she was happy with how it had went. ``It went really well,'' she said.
``It was a fitness test for me for Perth. Someone was watching to make sure I was at the level I was selected and I ended up getting that.
``Me and my sister [Bridie] both ended up being the Otago champs in our Steps.''
