Aislyn W., Oakwood High School
The Ballad of Joy
The audience applauded after the choir finished their last song. I felt like crying. My heart beat out of my chest in anticipation. The kids walked off of the stage, and only my a cappella group remained. A mist of despair clouded our minds. We walked down the risers, each of our steps hesitant. Tension seeped off of the stage. Everyone felt stuck. The pitch played, and we were counted off.
When everyone started singing, it was clear that we were uptight. The rhythm was disjointed, bodies shakily moved to the beat. My hands were so sweaty, I thought that my microphone was going to slip out of them. We finished our performance, and while everyone cheered, none of us felt it.
I knew that our unease was futile. I joined a cappella for a reason -- to sing. But then I wondered: why do I want to sing? Well, singing brings me joy. It''s a way to unite people through happiness, sadness, anger. Singing shouldn’t be something that makes me want to curl up and hide; it should be something that makes me feel free.
The next concert had to be different, starting with the attitude of our group. The next day, I came into practice with a beaming smile, a welcoming voice, and I was ready to cheer everyone up. Now, at first, it’s awkward. A muddled, messy group of strangers can have a hard time finding connection. But over the weeks, we began to truly bond. I used to come into class and see blurred faces, but I now saw every individual: their interests, their smiles, and their laughter.
By the time the next concert came, I knew that we were ready. Of course, some of us still felt nervous, but something had changed since the last performance. There was a connection, a rhythm to all of our hearts that made us steady. When the percussion counted us off, magic happened. When we sang, you could feel it in your soul. The music, although imperfect, created a beautiful ballad of joy. You couldn’t spot a single person on stage without a smile. When the crowd cheered, we listened.
Now I value connection between my peers more than ever, and I always try to be inclusive to people who seem lonely or uncomfortable. This experience taught me that the symphony of friendship sings louder than just one can, and it only takes one note of joy to spark the happiness of others.
