Everything Else Goes Away.

This past week consisted in my first few days on contract at Tech.

It's kind of a weird feeling. I'm not a student anymore, but I'm still surrounded by people I love who are, and watching them go to class and gripe about homework is strange. I'm around them but can't relate to what they're going through. Not necessarily a bad thing by any means...just different.

I'm also trying really hard to not care what other people think about the fact that I'm here. Some people may think that I didn't apply for anything over the summer (which would be a massive lie). Some people may think that I can't move on (which is also very untrue). But in the end, I guess people can think whatever they like. I have a legitimate job that is going to result in a professional credit for my resume. I'm furthering my career and working in my desired field. There's absolutely zero shame in that.

But today, I was having a moment of uncertainty as I walked to a practice room to work on the piano score for our production. I sat down and just basked in the silence. The piano sat there, patiently waiting for me to make the first move. As I finally remembered why I was there and tentatively began to play, all of the worry and insecurity I had been feeling disappeared...and the music took its place. Everything fell away, and the melody my fingers created took precedence in my heart and my mind.

Music has always been such a source of comfort for me. When I've been angry, heartbroken or stressed, I find that pouring out my emotions onto the keys of a piano always leaves me more focused, level-headed and stable. This experience was no exception.

About a week ago, my best friend Justin (who is actually here at Tech now) told me there was a song in the Broadway musical Next to Normal that reminded him of me. I finally ended up listening to it and immediately fell in love. The song, called Everything Else, pretty much echoes my sentiments about music and my life. I just wanted to share it with all of you because it's now one of my very favorites.

Mozart was crazy...

But his music's not crazy

It's balanced, it's nimble

It's crystalline clear

There's harmony, logic; you listen to these

You don't hear his doubts, or his debts or disease

You scan through the score and put fingers on keys

And you play.

And everything else goes away,

Everything else goes away...

And you play till it's perfect, you play till you ache

You play till the strings or your fingernails break,

So you'll rock that recital and get into Yale

And you won't feel so sick, and you won't look so pale

Cause you've got your full ride and an early admit

So you're done with this school and with all of this shit

And you'll graduate early, you're gone as of May

And there's nothing your paranoid parents can say.

And you know that it's just a sonata away

And you play.

And you play.

And everything else goes away,

Everything else goes away...

Everything else goes away.