WYDWYD

[Ashley Yoon]

Ashley Yoon10/08/09Discussion Session 1EWhy Do You Do What You DoTrembling shivery hands, blinding centered spotlights, and expecting focused eyes all illustrate my greatest passion: singing. Stepping onto the stage to perform demonstrated many lessons for me. While warming up my vocal chords and trying to take deep breaths to calm my nerves, my mother would ask me what I am doing, and why I am doing this. Rapture, inspiration, refuge, and resilience constituted a few of the answers. My personal goal in performing each particular song for the presented audience is to deliver my heart's message to their ears, and to reflect my deepest thoughts and feelings onto their souls. Despite all the nervousness and anxiety I have to deal with before I get on stage, I soon realize the answers to my mother's questions that had been secured in my heart ever since music first entered my ears.Growing up, I found my life to be displeasing, harsh, and often brutal. Having come from a family that was lukewarm about education, I lacked an academic role model. My mother, who works from 7 A.M. until 6 P.M., would always have severe back and shoulder problems from cutting and sewing clothes all day in a poor workplace that does not even supply air conditioning or heaters. My adopted younger cousin, whom I grew up with and is no different than a sister to me, did not choose the road to college but chose the road to drugs and alcohol instead. With all the commotion and hardship in dealing with my environment, I needed a place of solitude, consolation, and comfort. It was in such moments when I found music, which temporarily liberated me to a world where my problems and tears would quietly subside. The music that filled my ears often brought about the long-awaited happiness I had never experienced before. Gradually, I fell in love with music.Through these series of events, I learned that music helps me complete the missing piece of my soul which craved for serenity, and without it, the world would be solemn and silent, in fact, colorless. As for me, music represents so much more than just noise: it inspires and brings light to people who suffer from unbearable burdens and drown in endless darkness. Now that I know how powerful music is to the heart, mind, and soul, my passion for music revolves around connecting music's sole purpose to everyone else, especially those in pain. Singing wondrous and beautiful melodies to the people around me became a way for me to remind them of why music exists and how we can always depend on music to soften the tribulations and afflictions presented by obstacles we face daily. This is why I do what I do.