The Arts in NYC

1

My Dilemma

Before I chose engineering, there was music. Music, I thought, was my road to bliss. I would be happy, and others could be happy too.

But was I good at it?

Everyday I surround myself with music. I wake up, and turn on the radio as I brush my teeth. When I head out, I  put my iPod on and listen to some of my favorite songs to start the day. When I come home and turn on the laptop, iTunes is automatically on. As I jump into the shower, I sing out loud. When I head downstairs, I play some good old tunes on the piano, or learn a new song from the radio to play while my younger sister is at my side singing along. And when my friends come over, I like to sing out loud, which occasionally makes them sing with me (or laugh. Either way, it's cool).

The first time I recorded myself singing on the piano, I was horrified HAHA. I had no idea that my voice sounded like the way it did. I always imagined myself sounding like what I hear the in the iPod earbuds, but I was shocked to hear this stranger's voice in the video, almost... disheartened. Maybe it was a mistake? I recorded myself again. Different song. Different words. Same stranger.

What could I do? I didn't stand a chance on youtube, where thousands of talented musicians are playing their instruments and singing their hearts for their subscribers.

I paused, and thought, "Why should I major in music? Is it money? Is it fame?"

There was no answer. Just the sight of my calculus textbook, and homework left undone. I figured that maybe I should just stick to engineering for now. After all, why should I become a musician, when I already am a musician.

- Michael Cheng