This article is dedicated to the girls who have managed to put a smile on my face each and every day.
I can still remember fourth grade chorus. Back then we only sang in two parts. One song was about the fifty states, another about why we loved recess, and another in a language that I still don't know to this day. As a fourth grader, chorus meant going through the motions. It was blocked into my schedule every week, and it's not like I had a choice anyway.
I also remember getting my first solo. I remember being a little girl with shaking hands singing all by myself for the first time in front of my chorus teacher. I remember having the biggest smile on my face when I found out that I was chosen. It was the first time I thought to myself: hmm maybe I'm actually pretty good at this whole singing thing.
From there it was history. Throughout high school I sang in every musical and choir that I could. But there was one thing that my school didn't offer that I was dying to be a part of: an acapella group.
Ever since my junior year of high school, I told myself that no matter what college I ended up at, I would be in an acapella group. Some colleges I looked at had over a dozen different groups, some had five, and of course, the college I ended up at only had two, one being all male.
The thought of only having one acapella group on campus was slightly terrifying. What if I didn't get in? What if the only thing I knew I wanted going into college wouldn't become a reality? What if I wasn't good enough?
To top it all off, auditions were on the night of my birthday. My birthday would either end really great or really bad, and only a few moments in an audition room would dictate that.
Never in a million years did I expect to make the only female acapella group on campus, but I am so unbelievably thankful that I did. Little did I know that being a part of acapella didn't just give me another outlet to sing and perform; it would give me so much more.
College has come with a lot of hardships and difficulties. In the month that I've been here I've already experienced some sleepless nights, busy days, and difficult work. Of all the challenges and stress that has come my way, there has been no better remedy then going to rehearsal.
For that short two hours of rehearsal, every ounce of stress and every problem that I'm facing seemingly disappears. For that short two hours, it's just me, my friends, and music.
Not only has being in an acapella group given me an outlet for stress; it's given me a family. I don't think there is anything that can bring people closer together than making music. I've found people that I know I will have far beyond the walls of a practice room. In the short month that I've been here I've already found people that have made me laugh until I can barely breath, and people that have already been my shoulder to cry on. You'd think that 6 hours of rehearsal a week would be enough, but I've spent just about every weekend with them too.
Being part of an acapella group has been so much more than singing low notes as an Alto 2 (although those are great too). Being part of an acapella group has given me a sense of belonging, and a place to call home, even when home is miles away. It's given me happiness, laughs, memories, and not to mention, people to get me to go to the gym even when I really don't want to go.
The idea that I will have acapella as a part of me for the next four years is probably one of the most comforting things to know. My hopes as a junior in high school could not have been any more fulfilled, and I can't wait to see what the next four years has in store.
I guess you could say it was the best birthday present I could've ever gotten.
