17-year-old Kevin Lay at Dandenong Myer’s Ticketmaster outlet, on top of the world after securing tickets to a U2 concert just hours after learning he had passed his VCE.By Shaun Inguanzo
NOT even anticipation of seeing the biggest rock band in the world could wash away the anxiety of awaiting VCE results from the mind of 17-year-old Kevin Lay this week.
Queuing outside Dandenong Myer’s Ticketmaster outlet since midnight on Monday, 12 December, Kevin was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to grab tickets that morning to the Australian leg of Irish rock band U2’s phenomenally popular Vertigo 2005/06 tour, at Melbourne’s Tesltra Dome in March next year.
But with VCE results due at 7am – just two hours before tickets to U2 went on sale – his mind was flooded with thoughts over whether he had been successful.
“The results overrode my mind as 7am came closer,” he said.
“I became more nervous, and more edgy as to what my result was and when I would get it.”
Kevin said his fellow line campers were incredibly supportive, conducting a countdown to his results before counting down to the ticket sale.
“That was something I didn’t expect,” he said.
When 7am arrived, Kevin received the call he had been waiting for – that he had successfully gained his Victorian Certificate of Education, opening the door to a bid for a university place in either a business or politics course.
“It was a sense of relief that I did succeed in my VCE, and the fact it was all over and the hard work had paid off,” he said.
“Then what I said (to the queue) was that a new countdown had started; the countdown to Myer’s doors opening.”
The Hallam student said he had been a recent convert to the band’s legion of fans, after admiring lead singer Bono’s work in promoting overseas aid, but missed out on tickets to the first concert.
“I actually forgot about the first one, but always had the intention to attempt to grab tickets,” he said.
Kevin secured tickets soon after the box office opened at 9am last Monday, just two hours after the relief of his VCE result.
“I felt that all my luck had come at once, the fact I did succeed in my VCE, then it was just the icing on the cake, getting tickets to see one of greatest bands in the world.”
