I Believe in the Power of Music by Kelsey Wullenwaber

I vividly remember the day I received my first karaoke machine. It was the morning of my 7th birthday and I claimed it was the happiest day of my life. However, my parents may not have felt it was such a happy day, for I woke them up at the crack of dawn by pouncing on their bed like a playful baby tiger.

A broken ear drum and a few whiplashes later, my parents finally gave in and let me open one present. I could choose one and only one from the stack of presents hidden in my parent's closet, (as if I would never look there.)

Naturally, I picked up the largest present first. Bigger means better, right? I felt my face turning red and the smoke fuming out of my ears when my dad snatched it away from me and handed me a smaller present. You'll like this one better, peewee.

I rolled my eyes and plopped myself onto their bed. My mother always scolded me if I didn't read the card first. It was good manners to do so. It read, Happy Birthday, to our little mermaid. (One could typically find me sitting on our rocking chair singing every song, word for word, to The Little Mermaid.) Like an enraged badger, I mauled the package, tearing off every last bit of the neon green wrapping paper.

I couldn't believe it. I could literally hear the angel's singing the Hallelujah chorus in the background. It was my most wanted and desired karaoke machine. It was sparkly pink, brand new, and all mine. It even had a microphone. I would never have to resort to singing into my hairbrush or my shoe ever again. Not only could it play CD's and cassette tapes, but it could record my own music. It was the happiest moment of my life.

I believe in the power of music.

Eleven years later, I still feel as happy as I was when I was seven years old, listening to and playing music. I feel more and more passionate about music and singing everyday. I've been fortunate enough to participate in swing choir, mixed chorus, and receive a lead role in our school's musical. Music gives me an unexplainable bliss. I feel powerful when I'm listening to music and when I'm singing on stage.

Music speaks to me.

It's almost as if music is the perfect boyfriend. As silly as it may sound, music speaks to me better than any immature and adolescent boy could. Music knows exactly how to make me smile, make me cry, give me butterflies in my stomach, and give me delicate goose bumps on my arms; the sort of satisfaction that only music can bring me.

I'd be foolish to think that I was the only seven year old in the world that treasured music. Not only does music make me feel powerful but it makes others feel powerful as well. The power that I feel from just listening and playing music has made me believe that I can show others how exhilarating music is. I will be graduating high school this year. My belief in the power of music is the key reason why I have decided to study to become a music teacher for children. Teaching children the power that music has is the only thing that could satisfy me more than music itself.

I believe in the power of music.