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Remember What It Was Like To Be Me

 Alana was sparkly, as always. She shimmered in her hannah montana costume and bounced on her toes, ready to sing. Today was her first talent show, the sparkly kindergartener who somehow got admitted into the show, had prepared for this moment. This child was obsessed with singing, she was determined to be a singer. General Music class? Um, excuse you, you meant Alana's personal practice room with the world's greatest teacher to guide her. Alana looked forward to having music in her day, everyday and now she got to perform a solo for her school! What could go wrong? Alana trudged onto stage in her purple sparkly dress, microphone in hand staring at her shoes. That's out of character for her. Why, this child lit up her bedroom! She sang High School Musical and Camp Rock as though they were the national anthem. Kidz Bop in the car, in the kitchen, and everywhere in between. If a movie had music, it was a sing along! So why... did she look so scared--so still. Alana looked to the people before her: parents, siblings, 5th graders she'd never met. She then glanced to her music teacher, who kindly hit play on the boombox radio to play the karaoke track for, "This is Me" from Camp Rock. A power ballad performed by Demi Lovato, playing a teenager overcoming stage fright. 

How perfect for Alana, as she began to cry on stage.

Please, do not feel sorry for the five year old, she wanted to be a singer. And this performance was one of many to come. Alana sang, she paused, she cried, and resumed singing through the tears. Alana was terrified, but she sang her song. Alana performed in the talent show every after that, each year with a different Taylor Swift, Miranda Cosgrove, or Kidz Bop rendition. She sang the national anthem (the real one) at the Inaugural Ball in 5th grade and went on to be the lead in her fifth grade school musical. Alana balled after some of those performances. 5th grade talents show? Tap shoe to the hand. National Anthem? To much of a soprano to sustain the low note, went up in tears for not singing well enough. Tons of elementary school speed bumps, but the musical was special. Alana didn't cry about the musical. Alana sang, Alana got to act for the first time. SHE LOVED IT. Alana pulled people on stage for the finale, danced with her friends. She sang her first duet with Arel, she had the fanciest tale a bird's ever scene (we put on Seussical Jr.). Alana didn't stop singing, didn't stop getting scared either, but she performs to this day nonetheless. 

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