Winning Gold

Walking into a big room surrounded by many people you have very saw before. I am performing a solo that I have worked on for many days now. I began to play. I can feel the pressure in the air build. I take my three measure breath. I look up again to find that all those people are now just a select few. They people looking back at me smiling include my mother, band director, and the pianist. They are all encouraging me. I feel the bravery in me start to rise. I start to play my piece again. This time I have a much better sound to my clarinet. My notes are coming in more thick and full. Mr. Puckett is standing off to the side. He’s smile is mirroring my mother’s. Both smiles are growing, growing, growing with every note I play. A few measures later I finish my piece. I am as very pleased with my self as I possibly could as I am walking out the classroom door. Nervously I wait for my results. Minutes keep ticking by. Then the judge comes out holding a gold medal. I have won gold! As my mom takes me back home from Terre Haute North, I am smiling and very pleased with my first ever solo and ensemble contest.