By Laura Hioe • Senior • Violin
From a 5:45 wake-up call to a 1 A.M. bedtime, my Saturday in Indianapolis was jam-packed with activities, caffeine, and nerves (and celebrating Mr. Lack's 29th birthday). Once I arrived at the Palladium, we watched the high schools from Florida and Texas, and with each song progressing, I got more and more nervous as I knew our performance was coming soon. The nerves were almost uncontainable backstage, but I couldn't tell if it was from excitement or anxiety. The feeling of playing in such a beautiful venue is indescribable. You hear the music in a way you never have, and behind the bright lights on your fellow orchestra members, you see the dark shapes of the intricate velvet seats and pastel boxes.
Exhausted from the roller coaster of emotions and the overeating of fettuccine alfredo, I immediately took a nap after getting back to the hotel. However, at 5:47 P.M., I groggily made my way to a workshop led by Joanna Hersey. It was titled "Walking the Path Forward: What Does it Mean to Belong?" As a senior in high school during late March and early April (a.k.a the peak of college decisions), the path forward is almost never straightforward. This workshop helped me view this turning point in my life as being presented with many opportunities to take different paths to success.
