Scaling My Way to Yankee Stadium

By Julissa Ozuna

It’s very easy to fall into what your peers say and although I almost did, the love I have for the violin overshadowed how they felt.

Ever since a young age, I’ve been devoted to music. I’ve performed on stages big and small, and in fields filled with thousands of people who listened to the soothing sounds of my bow softly playing against the strings of my violin. My journey of becoming the first chair violinist of my school began in the 7th grade. I knew I was talented enough for the position, but that I needed to work on perfecting my scales, tone and pitch. In order to get better, it was clear that I would need to begin a new routine, so I started practicing my pieces everyday at 7:30 am instead of staying up late and sleeping in like I was used to. While I was trying to get to the next level with my violin skills, I began to notice division and tension with some of my peers. The difference in our goals became more obvious as I spent more time practicing in the music room than investing countless hours in a social life I wasn’t interested in.

The reason why I always rely on music in moments of distress, focus all comes from the auburn instrument I’ve grown to appreciate: the violin.

As time went on and the audition for first chair came close, I started to feel the pressure. Not only did I have to prioritize practicing for my audition, but I was also tasked to help the other violinists feel comfortable with their audition pieces. It was a lot to balance all that with my schoolwork. Despite the stress of trying to manage everything at once, I knew I still wanted the position so I kept working towards it. By May 2019, I felt confident; my scales were perfected and my tone and pitch had improved. After months of practicing and perfecting the violin, my hard work finally paid off. My music teachers heard a difference in my work and noticed the support I was able to give my fellow violinists. My discipline and dedication towards my goal transcended the negativity I was surrounded by and finally the first-chair position was awarded to me. 

Working towards my goal of becoming first chair made me realize that I am capable of pushing forward no matter what. At this point in time, I had a set of peers who weren’t on the same track as me. Yet, I understood that the violin is what I truly enjoyed doing. In life I am bound to be faced with challenges, some harder than others. Understanding my true passions and valuing my talents has allowed me to understand who I am as an individual, a determined, patient leader. It’s very easy to fall into what your peers say and although I almost did, the love I have for the violin overshadowed how they felt. The violin makes up who I am and enables me to truly understand myself at a deeper scale. The reason why I always rely on music in moments of distress, focus or relaxation comes back to the auburn instrument I’ve grown to appreciate: the violin.

Process

Each word in this piece has great meaning because this topic is commonly shared among teens. This piece was created because the chosen prompt resonated tremendously. Writing my piece was a reflective period because I was able to allow myself to review my actions although, at the time, I may not have thought there would be such an impact on who I am today.