For as long I can remember, sports have been a huge part of my life and a part of my identity. I am an Athlete, and so are those to whom I gravitate. I spend my free time either on the field or the court or watching others on the field or court on TV. Growing up, March Madness was a month-long holiday I celebrated with my father. So when the news of its cancellation hit, the reality and gravity of of our situation finally set in. One by one, my favorite sports teams, leagues, and channels announced their temporary hiatuses, and my world began to turn upside down and become rather dull very quickly. In a world without sports, my identity had been warped, even stripped, and I didn't know where to turn or dedicate my energy and attention. I turned to music to fill the void left by ESPN. It has been a wonderful surprise and relief how fulfilling shifting my full attention to music has been. Prior to the present shutdown, I led a very busy life, constantly having to juggle the responsibilities of athletics and music. I am now better able to regularly keep up with my voice lessons, and work with my choir teacher to improve my sight-reading and learn new key signatures. I began watching Tiny Desk concerts of my favorite artists and was blown away by their raw talent. I widened my range of notes, hitting notes I never have before, and have even started to look at tutorial videos in order to pick up playing piano again. Music became a fantastic way to pass the time, and to express my emotions and find beauty in a world that felt so dark and dull in the moment. I am so grateful to have had this time to appreciate music, and it has reminded me that identity doesn't have to be black and white: athletes vs non-athletes. I am an athlete, but I am also a musician, and I am free to pursue and love them both.
