Essentially anyone who you ask will tell you that middle school was awful and that high school wasn't much better. However, for a lot of us, there was one saving grace: choir. Choir was not just a class. Choir was a family. They saw you during your awkward years and loved you anyway, they made you smile during your inevitable angsty teen moods, and they were also there for you if you needed to talk or just needed a hug. If you were lucky enough to have been a part of this family during your time in middle school, high school, or even college, then you'll understand these 14 things that all choir kids know to be true.
1. Nothing terrified you more than voice tests.
I have to sing alone? I sound horrible. Maybe the guy who I like isn't here today? Oh, there he is. Would it be noticeable if I hid in the bathroom for the whole period?
2. Gum was the most forbidden substance.
Your teacher had good intentions in not wanting you to you to choke and die, but you probably threw caution to the wind a time or two anyway.
3. You cherished the time when you got to sit down while your teacher worked with other sections.
You sat for 50 minutes in all five of your other classes, but 15 minutes of standing in choir was just too much.
4. Choir crushes were the best and the worst.
Everyone would always find out, including your teacher, unless you just "inconspicuously" stared at them from across the risers and never spoke to them. Not that I ever did that.
5. Choir dresses were not one-style-fits-all.
There were a lot of girls who could rock the poofy, satin dresses. I, however, was not one of those girls.
6. Pencils were a must-have.
Using a pen on sheet music was sacrilegious.
7. Falling off of the risers was a real fear.
For some, it was also a cruel reality.
8. Choir music will always have a place in your heart.
Music has this almost mystical quality of transporting you to another time in your life with just a few notes. "Omnia Sol" and all of its beautiful nostalgia brings me back to being 13 years old and trying, somewhat unsuccessfully, to understand the world.
9. You know all of the words to every Christmas song.
Every Jewish mother's dream is to hear her daughter practice Christmas songs in the shower. I'm sorry, Mom.
10. Choir trips were the highlight of your year.
The drama that ensued on them made you feel like you were in "Gossip Girl" or "The O.C."
11. Let's not forget the trip dances.
They seemed like fun at the time, but now you realize that it was just one big life lesson of what not to do in future social situations.
12. You still find yourself singing warm-up songs.
You start humming and can't figure out where that tune came from. Then, all of a sudden, you realize that it was your favorite warm-up. Shout out to the papaya song!
13. Knowing that you killed the performance when your teacher teared up at the end.
They've taught a lot of choirs, but your group, with this song, evoked something inside of them. That's what music is all about.
14. You were a part of something bigger than yourself.
You were all so different, but you had this magical and inexplicable thing in common. Outside of that room, you lived separate lives and maybe didn't even get along. However, once you stepped through those doors, you shared a bond and were a family. It wasn't perfect, but it was ours.
