I've been playing oboe for eight years. Over that time I questioned my decision to play plenty of times. There are so many struggles to being a n oboe player, and yes, I have a love-hate relationship with my oboe, but this are what make the experience unique, and in my opinion, pretty great. Even if 90% of the time, it's a living hell.

1. The struggle of making your own reeds.

Gotta take a little more off right here... *cuts off corner*

2. Trying to hit a note, but just a squeak comes out.

Why does this still happen? After playing for eight years, this should not still be happening...

3. Being pretty confident you're going to blow an aneurysm on that high F.

Any composer who puts in a high F or above clearly has something against oboists.

4. Never being able to play in marching band or pep band.

Lets be honest, we're all secretly thankful for this.

5. Or, being forced to play percussion in marching band instead.

No hate on percussionists, your drums are just way too heavy for my oboe carrying arms.

6. At the end of a long piece, when it feels like your face is literally going to fall off.

And your cheeks kind of feel like rubber and you just keep moving your jaw in weird ways to try and fix it.

7. Having to play the english horn part of the piece.

I love english horn, and it's a beautiful instrument, but lets be honest here, I'm better at oboe.

8. Barely getting to play if you're not first chair.

'Cause composers only like oboes for the solos, apparently.

9. Pretty much being at the mercy of your instrument.

Oh, we're gonna be extremely sharp on C today? Alright, if you say so. And you're not gonna play piano? Fine, I see how it is.

10. Always being out of tune in the winter...

Ok, maybe just in general. But especially in the winter. And the fall. And the spring. And probably the summer too. But we don't have an excuse for that one.

11. ...but still having to tune the orchestra anyways.

The sweet sound of that in-tune A is the best way to start rehearsal.

12. When your orchestra director yells at you for tuning with your embouchure instead of adjusting on your instrument...

That's not how it works, sir. The reed goes all the way in and stays all the way in. Oboists tune with our embouchure and air, not by changing the length of our instrument. You direct an orchestra, you should know this by now.

13. That feeling when you meet another person who plays oboe.

"Oh my god you play oboe? I play oboe!"

Even though there definitely are a lot of us out there, it still feels like meeting another oboist is the coolest thing in the world - especially when it's through something other than band or orchestra.

14. Not being able to get reeds out of your oboe.

And cork grease is absolutely useless for this one.

15. Breaking reeds.

This is self-explanatory.

16. And when you don't break them, having to replace them ever couple months anyways...

Honestly, it's probably more like a month, but I try to make them stretch.

17. ...Except when you secretly stretch their lifespan to six months, even though they're practically dead by then.

Shh, don't tell my instructor...

18. The satisfaction of actually killing off the crappy reeds.

Because once they play out of tune 110% of the time, it's time to literally snap them in half, and nothing feels as good as that. We hate our reeds so much, there's nothing better than finally getting to take out your anger.

19. When your other woodwind playing friends just don't understand the cost of double reeds.

What do you mean your reeds only cost you $4?

20. When people say, "Oh, it's just like clarinet, right?"

They barely even look alike, but okay. Sure.

21. Literally carrying knives with you at all times.

Even though I know they're for reed making, I always feel uncomfortable about it anyways.

22. Fangirling over professional oboists.

Am I a nerd for taking a selfie with Eugene Izotov's mailbox? Probably. Do I regret it? Not at all.

23. Everyone thinks you're a complete nerd when you say you play oboe...

Why do we have such a bad reputation? I swear I'm cool. Right guys? Right?

24. But in the end, you know it's the most beautiful instrument in the world, and you wouldn't be the same without your oboe family.

Playing oboe gave me some of the best opportunities of my life. It taught me that hard work pays off, and even if you aren't the best in the beginning, you can still be great with practice.