October 22nd, 2010 - Sarah Forgey
As I stood waiting in line with a giant group of strangers, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. Older students who were auditioning for the third and fourth time playfully nudged each other and stood in line like it was any other normal school day. I knew no one and had no exact confidence the director of this choir would even think my voice was good enough to join the group. I nervously searched around for another fellow shaky individual. I locked eyes with a short girl sporting beautiful dark hair and brown eyes who smiled at me. “Are you a freshman, too?”, she asked. I nodded. “I’m SO nervous.” We exchanged a few words and she invited me to sit with her. As the director had us go through warmups and practice sheet music, I was shocked to find out that I was invited into the concert choir group as a Freshman. There were only three of us my first year. In the year 2010 my priorities and life were in a completely different place than they are now. I was just beginning to focus on music and learn how much of a role it was going to play into my high school life. My very first dip into music was through The Beatles. My father would sing Beatles songs to me as an infant, and all through my adulthood. I was absolutely immersed in those songs and lyrics. So many things have changed from 10 years ago to now. Almost all of my beliefs have been refined, I have all new friends, and I change my hair color constantly from month to month. The very first and most obvious thing I could think of that stays the same from now to then is my constant adoration for the Beatles. I feel proud of my 2010 self for being interested in this music when it was definitely not something my friends cared about in the slightest. It also serves as a reminder of how important family is to me. I can bond with any member of my immediate family over The Beatles, as it has always served as a kind of middle ground between each of us. Ten years ago, my dad was in full force training me on knowing specific Beatles’ voices and being able to call out whether it was Paul or George, John or Ringo singing lead vocals on any given song. Still to this day when I visit home, my dad stares playfully at me and demands to know “Who’s singing on this one?” as his eyes shift from my mother to me, no doubt hoping I’ll get the right answer ahead of her. Little did I know, my interest in the Beatles would be a creative gateway to the things that mean the most to me now. It led me to choir in high school, then art classes, then to my full blown career in graphic design. Music would influence so much of who I am as a person and the friends I had yet to make. It would even lead me to nabbing a solo on the acapella version of “Eleanor Rigby” my senior year of choir. I am so grateful for the music I grew up with and the people that shared it with me.
Sarah Forgey is a graphic designer, film lover, drag fanatic, & big fan of Keanu Reeves. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri and is Lead Art Director for Outreach International, a local nonprofit organization. You can check out more of her work at sarahforgey.com. She encourages you to check out the organization she works for - Outreach International, and the great work they do across the world for those in poverty. She would also like to spotlight the Kansas City Center for Inclusion.