I have always wondered what exactly it would feel like to be an Olympian. To have a representation of years and years of training, sacrifice, and hard work encapsulated in just a few moments. To stand at the top of a steep hill with nothing but experience and two strips of carbon fiber and plastic between me and certain death. To see the competitor right before me have a perfect run. To sense the tension of the crowd, the critical gaze of the awaiting judges. To have a set standard of performance that is almost humanly impossible to beat.
I don't know what it's like to be an Olympian, but I think auditioning for graduate schools is, in many ways, a pretty decent likeness. Now that both my auditions and the Olympics are finished, however, I have come to realize that there is one large and torturous difference between the two. The skiers get to look at the scoreboard as soon as they arrive at the bottom of the hill; the skaters receive their points from the judges within mere seconds of exiting the ice. Pianists, on the other hand, must wait. And wait. And wait. And WAIT. One month of human time = one bazillion katrillion quajillion years of waiting time. If it weren't for dear school keeping my brain so occupied, I would most likely have developed five ulcers by now. Possibly six. As is, I have yet to fall asleep at night without my thoughts inevitably dwelling upon the mysterious future. But, on the up-side, note to self: All one needs to do to acquire a plentiful supply of patience and endurance is fly all over the country and audition for a coveted spot in a studio full of ridiculously talented pianists.
1 comment:
There's nothing worse than the waiting game... having to wait four weeks after finals to get any grades has definitely given me a new appreciation for patience. But even then it's only a semester's worth of grades at stake, not the next several years of my life. If it makes you feel any better, though, I can't imagine that any of the schools don't want you.
I'm pretty bummed about it being tax season again... I know I should look forward to it, because it means getting money in the mail, but it's such a pain. This year the government is refusing accept our return, despite my several attempts to e-file, because of the hassle last year... so I'm going to have to turn in an old-fashioned paper packet. *yuck*
Not sure about Utah yet... it'll probably be about May 20, give or take a week. I'll definitely let you know as soon as we figure it out.
Post a Comment