i suprised myself.

The ideal job for me would be playing professional soccer for the U.S. Women's team. Now, I came to a conclusion a few years ago that this would not be possible. I played both travel and school soccer until 9th grade. I stopped playing so that I could focus more on my music and I just felt more at ease/less stressed with my music than I did playing soccer. Last year, I started travel soccer again because I realized how much I miss the adrenaline rush and the friendship that I had built with my teammates. I'm one of those people who play the sport for the love of it. Sure, it feels good to win games and celebrate with my teammates afterwards but just knowing that I'm out there having fun and doing what I love to do is what ultimately means the most to me. While I would love to play professional soccer, I've realized that I have to start thinking more realistically, especially since I haven't been able to play any sport since October after being diagnosed with chronic achilles tendonitis. Now, music has always been my first love. It was actually my dream to play the violin at 5 years old. It feels great knowing that my dream of playing violin has come true and that I've continued to play the violin for 10 years now. At the beginning of my junior year, a prospective dream job of mine was to play the violin in a Broadway orchestra pit. Luckily for me, some of the music teachers in our school got together and decided to host our own little assemblies in the music wing, inviting people who have all kinds of occupations within the field of music. One of these people just happened to have the job of ... PLAYING THE VIOLIN IN A BROADWAY ORCHESTRA PIT!!! It was great being able to talk to her and find out more about this occupation, but at the end of the class I realized it just wasn't right for me. I would still love to play in an orchestra pit for Broadway and maybe someday I'll get that chance, but it just doesn't fit in with my life goals as a permanent career.
After all of this, I knew I still wanted to have a career in music and eventually I decided on becoming an orchestra teacher (get ready for the music nerd to come out). I have been playing the violin with the same kids for the past 6 years and the orchestra is pretty much my second family. I've looked forward to 1st period everyday for the past 4 years, because I just have the best and funnest times with them. As corny as it sounds, I do get sad when I think about the fact that I only have two more concerts this school year, one of them being our annual senior concert. This has been my life as I've known it since the 4th grade and I feel as though my life is going to end come June 3rd (the date of our senior concert). Once that concert is over, we turn in our music and just take time to hang out with each other until the last day of school. Part of me doesn't even want to leave the orchestra room at all that day, because it has become my home. I realize though, that I have to move on to the next chapter in my life and I do believe that I'm definitely ready to do that. As sad as I'll be knowing that next year I won't be playing with my family, I am anxious to learn more about music, make new friends and possibly even become a part of a new family. I am excited to become an orchestra teacher and possibly even take over the role of the wonderful Ms. Shari Rivenburg, who's been not only a teacher and a friend to me, but also a confidant and a mother for the past 6 years. To me, the ultimate dream job would just be doing something that I love to do and having fun while doing it. It doesn't matter the amount of time and effort I have to put into it or the money I get out of it, it's just about having a passion for what I do. With that being said, a music educator is my new dream job. It feels awesome knowing that in 4-5 years, it will be my career.