Growing up, I was always the only one with musical talent or an interest in music. As I was approaching high school, I was dreading going to the high school I was zoned for. My brother, Brandon, graduated from Mallard Creek High School and he loved it, but I knew it wasn’t the right school for me. I have never been that enthusiastic about sports; instead, I’ve always had a love for music. I knew a normal public high school wouldn’t provide the opportunities I longed for, like becoming a better musician, as the majority of public high schools focus their funding and energy more on athletics than the arts.

I took it upon myself to start looking at other options, including magnet schools and charter schools. When I came across Northwest School of the Arts, it was love at first sight. It was a school where I could be who I am without being judged and do what I love to do every day and that sounded like heaven on earth to me. I mentioned Northwest to my mom and she said that she thought about me going to middle school there, but she did not think I was ready to audition then because I had just started playing piano in the fifth grade. My mom told me she believed in me, like all moms do, but if I didn’t get in not to be upset. At Northwest I had to audition before I could be placed in the lottery drawing.

Although many people didn’t believe in me and thought that I wasn’t talented enough to get in, I believed in myself and decided I was going to take it upon myself to prove them wrong. I heard a lot of negative comments like, “Those people are like child prodigies. Are you sure you’re talented enough to get in?” and, “I didn’t know you were even talented.” I had doubted myself since I knew that the kids who went to Northwest were very talented, and even I didn’t know if I fit into the "very talented" category. I researched all of the details and requirements for Northwest and told my mom when their Open House was. At Open House, we took a tour of the campus and it felt like the right place for me. No matter what my peers believed, I knew I had to show them up and prove them wrong.

Deciding to prove everyone wrong was a bit harder than I had originally thought. It took a lot of hard work, dedication and a lot of practice, but it did not matter to me. For once in my life, I felt that I had found something I was meant to do and I was willing to do anything to show that to everyone. My private piano and voice teacher, Ms. Lee, helped me prepare my piano and voice songs for my audition. On top of practicing and mastering both pieces, she drilled me on the solfege and taught me how to sight read.

Before the audition, my hands became clammy, and my heart was beating so fast I thought it may fall out of my chest; at that moment, I began to doubt myself and my talent. Putting my fears behind me, I continued into the audition. I was not going to let my nerves get the best of me and deter all of my hard work. The chorus audition went alright, I guess, but when the judge told me that I would only get in the chorus program if I got into the piano program, I quickly began to lose hope and felt the tears welling up in my eyes. It took all of my will power, but I knew that I had to take deep breaths and calm down so that I could do well on my piano audition and prove to the judges and teachers that I was meant to be a student at Northwest.

Immediately after my piano audition, I found out that I had passed that audition. I couldn’t stop smiling and I wanted to hug every person I saw in the hallway. I overcame all of the doubts that my peers had and of those of the people who said I wouldn’t get in. I had proved them wrong and shown them how much of a talented individual I really am. I realized that I’m one of those "very talented" people, too, and if I had listened to the Negative Nancys of the world, I wouldn’t be who I am today. If I had never attended Northwest School of the Arts, I wouldn’t have become a better musician and singer. I may have started from the bottom in the late beginning piano class and concert choir, but now as a senior, I am in proficient piano and the women’s chamber choir. I also am a proud alumni of the Tri-M Music Honors Society. I learned that no matter what people say, you should do what you want to do in your life. No matter how hard it may seem at first, if you do, it just might change your life for the better.

I want to thank all of my music teachers for teaching me not only my scales, solfege, key signatures, a bunch of complicated music theory, melody, harmony, rhythm and pitch, but also for teaching me professionalism, community, friendship, stage presence, self-responsibility, and a whole bunch of other life lessons.

In choir I made so many lifelong friends with both my choir teachers and other choir students. Most of them are like my family and I know I will go visit the choir room frequently and go to as many choir concerts as possible. In piano I made so many friends that will always have a special place in my heart likesArielle and Destiny. I also have a really good relationship with my piano teacher and I know if I need any help with anything involved with music in the future I can go to either my choir or piano teachers.

I am now more professional when it comes to musical performances. Dr. Calvar taught me how to look professional by putting a discrete smile on my face while walking on and off the stage. Ms. Madsen taught me to have good stage presence by showing confidence and really putting energy into our choir music. And my piano teacher, Ms. Stonnell, taught me to never show it on my face or start over when I make a mistake on my piano piece.

Through both preparing for my choir barriers and piano juries where I had to perform the piece we've been working on in front of the class has taught me self responsibility. I would have to sing or play all of the notes and rhythm right to get a good grade and to be able to perform in the choir concerts or play in the piano recitals. In order to do this, I would have to practice at home and learn the music myself or I wouldn't do well on the tests. This has prepared me for college so I will be self motivated to complete my assignments on time.

Going to an art school and joining both choir and piano has given me a sense of community. A choir is like a family and we cheer each other on during barriers and we are like a team when we win the game and get a superior ranking at our annual music performance assessment. In piano we also support each other during are juries and recitals. This is why hope to take music classes here at UNCA, so I can get that sense of community again.

Lastly, I learned leadership in choir. As a senior, my choir teacher, Ms. Madsen, would have me help the soprano section with their notes, play the music and help run the class when she was absent and have me run sectional practices. This has definitely helped me to step up to the plate while i'm in college.

Going to Northwest School of the Arts has been a life altering experience and I wouldn’t go back in time to change it for anything. I want to thank my choir and piano teachers for help me grow into well-rounded musician and for always being there for me! I have made lifelong friends with both students and teachers, became a better musician and was able to do it in a caring environment. My determination and passion helped guide me through this choice and it is one that I am glad that I saw through to the end. Northwest School of the Arts has guided me to become a better musician, as well as a student and individual. I now have a passion for learning because I have been introduced to an environment of which I feel confident and successful in. I chose to believe in myself and my talents and that will continue to shape me throughout the rest of my life.

With Love,

Jordan Nicole