The lights came on, reflecting the sweat droplets forming on my face. I took a shaky breath in, but the music hadn't even started yet. 

Up until this moment, my life had been anxiety-ridden, as I worried about everyone else’s success before my own. Stressing about deadlines, upon deadlines, until there was no mental space left for me to breathe. But right here, right now, with everyone’s eyes on me, and the emotion building, I felt a sense of peace. The weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. For 4 minutes and 58 seconds, I was free. Air rushed into my lungs with each breath, as if I was ascending towards those hot stage lights that shone down on me.  

At that moment, I knew who I was and what I would do for the rest of my life. 

My whole life, I knew that music was my passion, but I had always felt an overlying pressure from people around me to thrive. 

The day of the show came, and I was standing on the stage getting my mic taped on my face. I knew that I owed it to myself to succeed. At that moment, as if it had dropped out of the sky, I felt that weight hit my shoulders like a ton of bricks. It was that feeling I had been craving for a year. I felt the nerves in my body start to tingle. I saw everyone scrambling trying to get ready for the show upcoming show. I smelled the hairspray fumes start to waft into the auditorium doors.  I could taste the success, that I had not yet reached. 

As if time had stood still, the lights came up. There I was, center stage, with all of the eyes in the room glued to me. All the times I told myself that I would be terrified, nervous, and shy during this moment, I realized that I was wrong. I was calm and I was happy. I had worked so hard to get to this moment. Through those long days and sleepless nights, through those early mornings and late evenings, and through all those Saturday mornings that I spent teaching and memorizing, I felt proud. 

My music started to play. 

I looked at my scene partner and I could tell through his eyes that he was just as ready as I was. I placed myself in the shoes of my character. I tried my best to feel what she would feel. It was time to begin. I started to sing. I didn't even have to think twice. All of the energy that I had spent on this song over the last three months had paid off. It felt like second nature. The notes were soaring out of my mouth and I felt alive. 

The second half of the song came around. 

Tears began to stream down my face.

 I was crying not only for my character but for myself. Happy tears, proud tears, grateful tears. Tears that signified that I had worked as hard as I possibly could to get to exactly where I was standing right then. 

The song was coming to a close. My high note was next. This part of the song was the part that I had worked the hardest on. I knew it had to be perfect. I opened my mouth and notes soared out of it, flying through the air. 

The song ended. 

The crowd erupted with cheers and applause as I had never heard before. I felt such pride. I had worked so hard and it was all paying off. Just like that, it was over. The lights shut off. I turned around to walk off stage. I was happy, I was free, I was home, and I knew that this is what I needed to spend the rest of my life doing.