I know now that one of the things they are known for is their teacher training programs for those of us intrepid enough to take up teaching art and music.
I didn’t know that when I was 16.
What I knew, sitting in that small practice room at Eastern with my scholarship evaluator, was that I was determined to get out of my hometown and away from my family.
I knew that I could play —
“I don’t know about the techical aspect of things,” my mother reminisced to me this summer. “But girl, you hit those keys with emotion.”
— and I thought at the time that playing would – possibly, perhaps – be a way to accomplish that.
I did not think anything would come of this particular excursion except, perhaps, a chance to see what someone else thought of my abilities. (And to take that knowledge to better myself.)
So when the evaluator finished her notes, I expected her to hand them to me and off I would go.
Instead, I was handed an offer.
“We would love to have you in our program here when you graduate [from high school]. You may consider this your audition,” she said.
At my stunned ” . . . ” she smiled and elaborated with: You’re in.
I’d always known there would be forks in my life’s road. I had already, by the time I reached 16, been subject to multiple hairpin turns and more than one {avoidable} fiery car crash due to the ineptitude of those at the wheel.
But now, for the first time, I saw a potential route I hadn’t previously known existed.
Looking back now, I think…
How appropriate that Ypsilanti starts with Y.
You don’t always have to travel the fork in the road.
Sometimes it is enough to know the Y is there.
.
for the April A-to-Z Blogging Challenge: letter Y
My theme for this year’s challenge is Music as Muse.
You can see all my 2021 challenge posts here.
What a great continuation of the earlier story. You never know where life may lead.
That’s true. So many winding roads to travel! 🙂
You don’t always have to travel the fork in the road.
Sometimes it is enough to know the Y is there.
The smartest thing I’ve read all year! (maybe ever!)
fondles recently posted…This Week I Learnt About Pockets
Wow. What a wonderful true story. I felt nervous and excited for you as you were “there” at the “audition.” That had to be an amazing feeling and what an accomplishment. Go you! Windy
windy recently posted…Your Wooden Spoon
It was one of those Moments In Life. 🙂
“Alternate routes” have been a bit of a theme in my life. 🙂
This makes me smile in delight for your teenage self.
Thanks. I was definitely smiling that day. 🙂
I was wondering about Ypsilanti. I thought it might be a piece of music but looked it up and found it was a town. Also a Greek warrior. Did you accept the scholarship? I thought your comments on fork in the road meant maybe you didn’t.
You certainly captured the moment and as another comment said they felt for you at the audition, so did I. A memorable moment in your life!
No, I attended a different university when the time came. But yes, it was definitely a memorable moment. 🙂
What a wonderful word. I think those forks in the road are the things that end up making us the people we become xx
Julie recently posted…Blogging A-Z Challenge 2021: Zigzagging to the end
And with life being what it is, throwing us curveballs, and sending us up and down hills, you never know how many times you will see the Y, and how many times you will actually use it. Those last two lines say it all 🙂
~ Marie xox
I was going to ask if you attended that school, but I see you didn’t. Did you continue to pursue music though? I play a few instruments poorly. But regardless of my abilities, I do enjoy the process.
I did continue with my music, yes. 🙂