The memory that stands out during my high school experience is my sophomore auditions for the spring musical, School House Rock. I remember walking into the lobby of the theater where thirty kids were rapidly filling out paperwork. I was so excited about auditioning, but I started to freak out at the frenzy before me.

Finally, it was time to audition and we had all sat in the front section of the theater. Mrs. Bartlett had gathered all the papers and randomized them in her stack. I was still gathering my strength to go up on stage, when I heard my name called; I was the first name called up. Sadly, these were singing auditions, and my voice was still changing. So I took like ten deep breathes and went on stage. I felt somewhat comforted when I heard cheers from my junior and senior friends.



Mr. Rodriguez asked if I was a tenor or a bass, and my immediate response was, “I don’t know.” I felt a sense of frustration on his part, but because my voice was pretty high, he made me sing the part of the tenor. I didn’t realize that the tenor part was so high, but I agreed with his decision. The music started and I began the piece. About my third word into the song, my voice started to crack. I remember thinking “pick yourself back up, pick yourself back up.” However, as I got deeper into the song, my words began to screech even more. Finally, I couldn’t take anymore humiliation, and I ran off the stage and back into my seat. My friends who had cheered for me were not cheering anymore, and Mrs. Bartlett ignored the whole thing and moved on. It was as if I had not existed. The humiliation was nagging at me from all corners of the room. Sadly, I couldn’t leave the theater until my friend’s auditions were over, and she was one of the last girls to go audition.

It took me two years to gather up the strength to go back on the stage and audition again, and thankfully, my voice stopped shifting at its own will. During my senior year, I have been in both the fall play and spring musical, and in the advanced choir. However, I will always remember the day when puberty ruined my life.