close your eyes and imagine listening to your favorite song think about the way
your favorite song think about the way
your favorite song think about the way it makes you feel and every single
it makes you feel and every single
it makes you feel and every single emotion that runs through you while
emotion that runs through you while
emotion that runs through you while you’re listening to it now open your
you’re listening to it now open your
you’re listening to it now open your eyes
eyes
eyes regardless of whether it made you feel
regardless of whether it made you feel
regardless of whether it made you feel sad happy excited nervous it made you
sad happy excited nervous it made you
sad happy excited nervous it made you feel something this is the power of
feel something this is the power of
feel something this is the power of music and song when I sing I feel like I
music and song when I sing I feel like I
music and song when I sing I feel like I can take on the world I feel like I’m
can take on the world I feel like I’m
can take on the world I feel like I’m untouchable and I probably won’t be the
untouchable and I probably won’t be the
untouchable and I probably won’t be the next beyoncé or Taylor Swift but I
next beyoncé or Taylor Swift but I
next beyoncé or Taylor Swift but I still love it and that’s what’s great
still love it and that’s what’s great
still love it and that’s what’s great about singing and performing you don’t
about singing and performing you don’t
about singing and performing you don’t have to be very good to feel the way I
have to be very good to feel the way I
have to be very good to feel the way I feel when I’m on a stage you just have
feel when I’m on a stage you just have
feel when I’m on a stage you just have to have the courage to stand up there
to have the courage to stand up there
to have the courage to stand up there and sing like no one’s watching or
and sing like no one’s watching or
and sing like no one’s watching or judging you like it’s just you doing the
judging you like it’s just you doing the
judging you like it’s just you doing the thing that you love most
thing that you love most
thing that you love most Ray Charles once said that I was born
Ray Charles once said that I was born
Ray Charles once said that I was born with music inside me music was one of my
with music inside me music was one of my
with music inside me music was one of my parts like my ribs my kidneys my liver
parts like my ribs my kidneys my liver
parts like my ribs my kidneys my liver my heart like my blood it was a force
my heart like my blood it was a force
my heart like my blood it was a force already within me when I arrived on the
already within me when I arrived on the
already within me when I arrived on the scene it was a necessity for me music
scene it was a necessity for me music
scene it was a necessity for me music has always been like this for me for as
has always been like this for me for as
has always been like this for me for as long as I can remember I’ve been singing
long as I can remember I’ve been singing
long as I can remember I’ve been singing and performing whether it’s been in
and performing whether it’s been in
and performing whether it’s been in front of family members or in front of a
front of family members or in front of a
front of family members or in front of a paying audience my mom has told me
paying audience my mom has told me
paying audience my mom has told me stories about taking me to Mommy & Me
stories about taking me to Mommy & Me
stories about taking me to Mommy & Me music classes and even then when I was
music classes and even then when I was
music classes and even then when I was about 1 I could follow a beat and was
about 1 I could follow a beat and was
about 1 I could follow a beat and was one of the only babies in that room who
one of the only babies in that room who
one of the only babies in that room who could create a song while beating on a
could create a song while beating on a
could create a song while beating on a plastic drum flash-forward to first
plastic drum flash-forward to first
plastic drum flash-forward to first grade I can remember signing up for
grade I can remember signing up for
grade I can remember signing up for Brookwood forest talent show I was so
Brookwood forest talent show I was so
Brookwood forest talent show I was so nervous and scared to be going up
nervous and scared to be going up
nervous and scared to be going up against all the big 6th graders because
against all the big 6th graders because
against all the big 6th graders because I knew that they were so much better
I knew that they were so much better
I knew that they were so much better than I was but I went out onto that gym
than I was but I went out onto that gym
than I was but I went out onto that gym floor nodded to the man who was
floor nodded to the man who was
floor nodded to the man who was controlling the city player waited for
controlling the city player waited for
controlling the city player waited for my accompaniment to begin and started to
my accompaniment to begin and started to
my accompaniment to begin and started to sing my hands
sing my hands
sing my hands shaking but my voice was clear and when
shaking but my voice was clear and when
shaking but my voice was clear and when the judges called out my name for the
the judges called out my name for the
the judges called out my name for the first-place winner my mouth dropped and
first-place winner my mouth dropped and
first-place winner my mouth dropped and my body filled to the pride I had never
my body filled to the pride I had never
my body filled to the pride I had never encountered before
encountered before
encountered before however as the years went on I found it
however as the years went on I found it
however as the years went on I found it harder and harder to push myself to
harder and harder to push myself to
harder and harder to push myself to perform I began to feel insecure about
perform I began to feel insecure about
perform I began to feel insecure about my talent seemingly for no reason but
my talent seemingly for no reason but
my talent seemingly for no reason but after a while I began to question my
after a while I began to question my
after a while I began to question my insecurity why was I so doubting of
insecurity why was I so doubting of
insecurity why was I so doubting of myself this year I began searching for
myself this year I began searching for
myself this year I began searching for the answer to the question that has been
the answer to the question that has been
the answer to the question that has been stuck in my head
stuck in my head
stuck in my head and I realized that I have slowly been
and I realized that I have slowly been
and I realized that I have slowly been giving up on a part of me that has
giving up on a part of me that has
giving up on a part of me that has always been there a part of me that I
always been there a part of me that I
always been there a part of me that I know will never go away and I just
know will never go away and I just
know will never go away and I just wanted to figure out why recently I came
wanted to figure out why recently I came
wanted to figure out why recently I came to the conclusion that because schools
to the conclusion that because schools
to the conclusion that because schools do not emphasize promote or support
do not emphasize promote or support
do not emphasize promote or support performing arts as much as sports
performing arts as much as sports
performing arts as much as sports talents such as singing acting or
talents such as singing acting or
talents such as singing acting or playing music cause kids to feel
playing music cause kids to feel
playing music cause kids to feel embarrassed or ashamed about their
embarrassed or ashamed about their
embarrassed or ashamed about their talents but if schools did a better job
talents but if schools did a better job
talents but if schools did a better job promoting artistic artistic expression
promoting artistic artistic expression
promoting artistic artistic expression say as much as we promote sports then
say as much as we promote sports then
say as much as we promote sports then kids wouldn’t feel so ashamed about
kids wouldn’t feel so ashamed about
kids wouldn’t feel so ashamed about their talents and which showcased them
their talents and which showcased them
their talents and which showcased them much more in a recent interview on CBS
much more in a recent interview on CBS
much more in a recent interview on CBS Sunday morning Oscar winner a renowned
Sunday morning Oscar winner a renowned
Sunday morning Oscar winner a renowned actress Sally Fields claimed that she
actress Sally Fields claimed that she
actress Sally Fields claimed that she was lucky enough to be a part of an era
was lucky enough to be a part of an era
was lucky enough to be a part of an era where they had arts and schools because
where they had arts and schools because
where they had arts and schools because she doesn’t know what would have
she doesn’t know what would have
she doesn’t know what would have happened to her without them however
happened to her without them however
happened to her without them however right now in our society the arts are
right now in our society the arts are
right now in our society the arts are not a showcased part of public schools I
not a showcased part of public schools I
not a showcased part of public schools I email different teachers from several of
email different teachers from several of
email different teachers from several of the middle schools in the greater
the middle schools in the greater
the middle schools in the greater Birmingham area find out more of their
Birmingham area find out more of their
Birmingham area find out more of their find out more about their situations and
find out more about their situations and
find out more about their situations and I learned that most of the schools
I learned that most of the schools
I learned that most of the schools contain a band in choir and have
contain a band in choir and have
contain a band in choir and have showcases for both but do not have a
showcases for both but do not have a
showcases for both but do not have a school production there was only one
school production there was only one
school production there was only one school in Birmingham that had the
school in Birmingham that had the
school in Birmingham that had the opportunity for all kids to participate
opportunity for all kids to participate
opportunity for all kids to participate and not just one but two productions
and not just one but two productions
and not just one but two productions throughout the year this is something I
throughout the year this is something I
throughout the year this is something I believe should be changed not just for
believe should be changed not just for
believe should be changed not just for the students and band in choir who
the students and band in choir who
the students and band in choir who already have an interest but for the
already have an interest but for the
already have an interest but for the kids who have never participate
kids who have never participate
kids who have never participate in the arts before kids are often too
in the arts before kids are often too
in the arts before kids are often too scared to get involved because they’re
scared to get involved because they’re
scared to get involved because they’re worried about their grades or the
worried about their grades or the
worried about their grades or the reputation or students like me at times
reputation or students like me at times
reputation or students like me at times are too scared to take a risk to jump
are too scared to take a risk to jump
are too scared to take a risk to jump off the ledge into a great opportunity
off the ledge into a great opportunity
off the ledge into a great opportunity because they’re worried what people
because they’re worried what people
because they’re worried what people might think of them or how much it could
might think of them or how much it could
might think of them or how much it could change their life and schools aren’t
change their life and schools aren’t
change their life and schools aren’t really allowing for these kids to take a
really allowing for these kids to take a
really allowing for these kids to take a risk and this could be causing a
risk and this could be causing a
risk and this could be causing a negative effect in the school like a
negative effect in the school like a
negative effect in the school like a loss of happiness in the school lots of
loss of happiness in the school lots of
loss of happiness in the school lots of passion based work a reduction in
passion based work a reduction in
passion based work a reduction in musicians in the school and maybe even
musicians in the school and maybe even
musicians in the school and maybe even an increase in students give up on their
an increase in students give up on their
an increase in students give up on their dreams and to counter that the positives
dreams and to counter that the positives
dreams and to counter that the positives accompanied by the mute more music and
accompanied by the mute more music and
accompanied by the mute more music and more performing arts classes far
more performing arts classes far
more performing arts classes far outweigh the negatives
outweigh the negatives
outweigh the negatives who knows maybe if my school and other
who knows maybe if my school and other
who knows maybe if my school and other schools around Birmingham choose to
schools around Birmingham choose to
schools around Birmingham choose to include more Performing Arts and music
include more Performing Arts and music
include more Performing Arts and music classes and really encourage their kids
classes and really encourage their kids
classes and really encourage their kids to try being in one where kids would
to try being in one where kids would
to try being in one where kids would want to participate and maybe those kids
want to participate and maybe those kids
want to participate and maybe those kids would grow to love being in them and
would grow to love being in them and
would grow to love being in them and maybe they would find a secret hidden
maybe they would find a secret hidden
maybe they would find a secret hidden town within themselves that they never
town within themselves that they never
town within themselves that they never knew was in the before like they find
knew was in the before like they find
knew was in the before like they find that they’re a really good singer or
that they’re a really good singer or
that they’re a really good singer or dancer or musician and the school would
dancer or musician and the school would
dancer or musician and the school would grow as a safe environment and would
grow as a safe environment and would
grow as a safe environment and would grow in diversity kids might even become
grow in diversity kids might even become
grow in diversity kids might even become closer with their classmates if they’re
closer with their classmates if they’re
closer with their classmates if they’re encouraged to participate so my original
encouraged to participate so my original
encouraged to participate so my original question is why am i and other kids not
question is why am i and other kids not
question is why am i and other kids not performing and my main answer is because
performing and my main answer is because
performing and my main answer is because we don’t have many opportunities that
we don’t have many opportunities that
we don’t have many opportunities that work for us between school and other
work for us between school and other
work for us between school and other extra other extracurricular activities
extra other extracurricular activities
extra other extracurricular activities so a solution I had is to encourage all
so a solution I had is to encourage all
so a solution I had is to encourage all schools to incorporate at least two
schools to incorporate at least two
schools to incorporate at least two theatrical productions into the school
theatrical productions into the school
theatrical productions into the school year these could be original ideas
year these could be original ideas
year these could be original ideas junior Broadway productions showcases
junior Broadway productions showcases
junior Broadway productions showcases but these productions should be open to
but these productions should be open to
but these productions should be open to all students and should be really
all students and should be really
all students and should be really encouraged by the teachers there could
encouraged by the teachers there could
encouraged by the teachers there could be one per semester or two in one
be one per semester or two in one
be one per semester or two in one semester or more if desired and if it’s
semester or more if desired and if it’s
semester or more if desired and if it’s a problem with money just to remember
a problem with money just to remember
a problem with money just to remember this you don’t need fancy costumes or
this you don’t need fancy costumes or
this you don’t need fancy costumes or fancy set to put on a good show
fancy set to put on a good show
fancy set to put on a good show and once the school starts to gain an
and once the school starts to gain an
and once the school starts to gain an income the money can go into the
income the money can go into the
income the money can go into the performing arts department and
performing arts department and
performing arts department and eventually towards other shows I believe
eventually towards other shows I believe
eventually towards other shows I believe that with this we can put an end to the
that with this we can put an end to the
that with this we can put an end to the stereotypes that have been complained
stereotypes that have been complained
stereotypes that have been complained about for decades we can turn a job into
about for decades we can turn a job into
about for decades we can turn a job into a dancer a prom queen into a singing
a dancer a prom queen into a singing
a dancer a prom queen into a singing sensation and a geek into a star I want
sensation and a geek into a star I want
sensation and a geek into a star I want to be a part of the generation that
to be a part of the generation that
to be a part of the generation that makes music a more prominent part in
makes music a more prominent part in
makes music a more prominent part in students lives and I believe that this
students lives and I believe that this
students lives and I believe that this is the way to do it it’s been a long
is the way to do it it’s been a long
is the way to do it it’s been a long time since I won that talent show in
time since I won that talent show in
time since I won that talent show in first grade I’ve learned some lessons
first grade I’ve learned some lessons
first grade I’ve learned some lessons about Who I am and about who my peers
about Who I am and about who my peers
about Who I am and about who my peers are throughout the years I’ve gained and
are throughout the years I’ve gained and
are throughout the years I’ve gained and lost confidence same goes for friends
lost confidence same goes for friends
lost confidence same goes for friends and interests but the one constant thing
and interests but the one constant thing
and interests but the one constant thing in my life has always and I believe will
in my life has always and I believe will
in my life has always and I believe will always be music when someone would ask
always be music when someone would ask
always be music when someone would ask me about my singing I would usually get
me about my singing I would usually get
me about my singing I would usually get all embarrassed and lose a lot of my
all embarrassed and lose a lot of my
all embarrassed and lose a lot of my self-confidence because I didn’t believe
self-confidence because I didn’t believe
self-confidence because I didn’t believe it was something to be proud of to be a
it was something to be proud of to be a
it was something to be proud of to be a singer to be a performer I am working to
singer to be a performer I am working to
singer to be a performer I am working to change the way I feel about that part of
change the way I feel about that part of
change the way I feel about that part of me but I want you and every other kid
me but I want you and every other kid
me but I want you and every other kid who has doubts about their abilities to
who has doubts about their abilities to
who has doubts about their abilities to know whoever you are and whatever these
know whoever you are and whatever these
know whoever you are and whatever these things mean to you your talent matters
things mean to you your talent matters
things mean to you your talent matters you matter and your dream it matters so
you matter and your dream it matters so
you matter and your dream it matters so don’t let the doubters the pessimists or
don’t let the doubters the pessimists or
don’t let the doubters the pessimists or even the other kids in school or your
even the other kids in school or your
even the other kids in school or your co-workers hold you back from doing what
co-workers hold you back from doing what
co-workers hold you back from doing what you love even if it may be looked down
you love even if it may be looked down
you love even if it may be looked down upon Plato once stated that music is a
upon Plato once stated that music is a
upon Plato once stated that music is a moral law it gives soul to the universe
moral law it gives soul to the universe
moral law it gives soul to the universe wings to the mind flights the
wings to the mind flights the
wings to the mind flights the imagination and charm and gaiety to life
imagination and charm and gaiety to life
imagination and charm and gaiety to life into everything simply stated the world
into everything simply stated the world
into everything simply stated the world is better with music and schools just
is better with music and schools just
is better with music and schools just need more of it so think about that
need more of it so think about that
need more of it so think about that favorite song again remember that
favorite song again remember that
favorite song again remember that feeling you had when I first mentioned
feeling you had when I first mentioned
feeling you had when I first mentioned it well wouldn’t it be great if one day
it well wouldn’t it be great if one day
it well wouldn’t it be great if one day every school in Birmingham or maybe even
every school in Birmingham or maybe even
every school in Birmingham or maybe even United States could have a chance where
United States could have a chance where
United States could have a chance where students could get on a stage and
students could get on a stage and
students could get on a stage and experience this feeling thank you
experience this feeling thank you
experience this feeling thank you [Applause]
”
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