It was a year ago when I was in your shoes. Thinking about what I would do when my high school music career was coming to a close. Some of you will continue to play or sing in college and others, will put down your instrument or microphone the day you graduate high school. What you don't realize now is how much music has prepared you for college.
Music has taught you how to make friends during your years of playing instruments for different groups or singing with this group or that you were making friends. You were learning how to talk to others and using music as a way to connect with other people. Music has taught you that even though you may be shy you know how to make friends.
Music has taught you to time management skills. Practices, concerts, clubs, homework, a job, you were busy during high school. You learned how to manage your time so you could complete your homework on time, get to each practice, and work for several hours. You are more prepared for college than anyone else. You have the skills, all thanks to being involved in music. Take what you have learned in terms of time management and apply it to your college experience.
Music has taught you to persevere. When you didn't get the chair placement you wanted or placed in that singing group, you did not give up. No, you worked harder, you practiced more, you persevered. College is all about not giving up when you are faced with a challenge. With years of practice, you know what that hard work pays off, and that giving up is not an option. When you step onto campus in the fall do not give up, use the skills that music has taught you about hard work and perseverance and tackle those hard classes. Never give up. You haven't yet so don't start now.
You've learned to work with a team. College is being able to function as a member of a team. You know how to communicate and take directions well. You are more prepared than you may think. Music has taught you to set goals, to focus on those goals. You set the goal to be first chair, to be the best player or singer that you can possibly be. Continue that next fall. Set those goals, be the best student that you can be, make new friends, go for new opportunities. You know how to set the plan to achieve those goals. Instead of hours of practice, make it hours of studying. Set a clear plan that you know that you will follow. All you have to do is take the skills you learned by being involved with music and apply them to an academic and social setting.
You only have a few more weeks as a high school musician, make the best memories these last few weeks. Apply what you learned to the situations you will face next fall. If you can keep playing and singing.
