How I Overcame One of My Biggest Fears

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved music. I started singing before I could talk and loved to make music by banging on pots and pans all day and shaking shakers. According to my mom, I used to bounce on my butt to commercials and TV theme songs before I could even walk. I also took kindermusik classes from age 1 to first grade. After kindermusik, I began taking piano and voice lessons at a local music store. I also joined the school choir in fifth grade and was a member through high school. In addition, I wrote a song for the school arts contest in eighth grade and won first place in the musical composition category. Music has always been my passion. However, the one thing I didn’t like about music was performing in front of people.

I was always fine singing with the choir at our concerts. But when it came to singing solos, I would have rather jumped off a cliff. The idea of getting up in front of a lot of people to sing really frightened me. I didn’t like how people just stared at you and expected you to be great. I was always nervous that I would make a mistake and embarrass myself. I wouldn’t even sing for my family or friends. I was just too scared. The only place I would sing was in my room with the door shut. However, during my junior year of high school, I was able to overcome my fear.

In the fall of my junior year, I considered applying for the Tri-M music honorary since I loved music so much. However, I was unsure about it because I thought there was no way I had enough talent for it and was afraid of rejection. My best friend Katey, who was already in Tri-M thought I had more than enough talent and talked me into applying. Even though I was nervous, I filled out an application and submitted it.

Two months later, I found out that I had been chosen as a member and was required to sing a solo at the new members recital. I was ecstatic about making Tri-M but I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to sing in front of all those people. Once again, Katey encouraged me to give it a try. So I prepared an italian aria with my voice teacher and got ready to perform.

The night of the recital, I was beyond nervous. Katey and I were sitting in the music room together before the recital and I was freaking out. “Katey, I don’t think I can do this.” I said “There’s so many people out there. What if I mess up?” “Colleen, calm down.” Katey replied, “You can do this. I believe in you.” So I took a deep breath and walked into the auditorium with her. When it was my turn to sing, Katey came up on stage with me to introduce me. As she was talking, I looked around the room and saw all these people staring at me. My stomach gurgled and I was shaking. I still wasn’t sure I could do this. After Katey finished talking, my accompanist began playing. I looked around again and froze. I didn’t think I would get past the first note. But after I heard my que, I began singing quietly. After I was finished, the audience started clapping and cheering really loud for me. I was surprised because I thought I did terrible. I quickly took a bow and ran off the stage.

The next day at school, I was still sulking about that performance. I thought I did so poorly. However, everyone kept telling me how great I was. At first I thought they were just being nice but I got compliments on my singing the whole day. I felt proud that I faced my fear and didn’t give up even though I was nervous. I have since sang at many recitals through my voice lessons and even accompanied myself on the piano at a few. Singing in front of people doesn’t seem so scary to me anymore and I actually enjoy it. I have learned to relax by taking deep breaths and look over the audiences’ heads instead of directly at them. I have also learned that the only way to overcome your fears is to face them and be confident that you can do it.