Throughout high school, I was involved in all sorts of arts, including band, show choir, and theater. This had a major impact on my life throughout high school and even in my college life. I spent all hours of the day at my school involved in rehearsal, or at home working on stuff on my own. Basically, all my time was spent at the school or practicing; and trust me, by the time the show came around, my mom was ready to kick me out. I ran lines, sang songs, played my instrument, marched in my house, and continuously listened to my show music on full blast in my room. My life was music, and because of that I missed out on several high school "experiences."

I didn't go to parties, unless you count the cast parties that happened after performances. I was far too busy to waste my time going to a pointless party when I could be practicing or performing. I had relationships, but they were almost strictly with people involved in music. My friends were all music kids, my family was partly musically inclined, so I missed out on having a huge variety of friends. I quit sports to make more time for my music, so I missed out on my softball team doing amazing and experiencing my own softball senior night. I didn't really get to got out with friends all that much either, and if I did, it was usually before or after a band or theater event (surprise, surprise). I just overall spent a lot of my time at the school and not much time being a "kid." But I wouldn't change it.

I do not regret being involved in so much of the arts world, and not so much of the social world. I learned valuable life lessons and made amazing friendships with people who would do anything for me whenever I needed them to. I have skills that no one can take away from me and I found something that I totally love and have an amazing passion for. I love being a part of something bigger than me and knowing that my involvement has a major impact in what happens in the performance.

Although I missed out on several things by being a music kid, I would not trade what I did for anything in the world. If I was given the chance to redo it, I would do it all the same exact way I did. Since I was so involved in music and the arts, it is now the career field that I have chosen for myself and I could not be any more excited to start this part of my life: doing something that I love and helping others find the same passion I have for something so amazing. Find your passion, stick with it no matter what, and never give it up.