I have no idea why I always wanted to play the guitar. It was a desire that developed at a young age. I started to fulfill this desire by learning the mandolin at school, because it was the most “similar” thing to the guitar there was. I joined the school I attended in the fourth grade, because music lessons started in the third grade. I was a year behind the other students. A year when I had nothing to do with playing, I had to keep up. I had remedial lessons, I put in hours and hours of learning and practicing. I constantly challenged myself. I learned a lot from this period. My teacher knew that I was interested in learning the guitar and she referred me to a teacher. I bought a guitar, a simple classical guitar for beginners, and I finally started learning the guitar.

      My first lesson happened when I was 10 years old and I was excited. It was actually my first time playing the guitar. The lesson itself was about getting to know the instrument, and getting to know basic knowledge for beginners. I leave the first lesson feeling confused. I left the first lesson disappointed. How is it possible that I always wanted to play the guitar, and when I do it, I have no desire to continue? But I kept going. I kept playing for two years. I got to the point where I knew there was a lesson, I wanted to escape. Every lesson I had, I just waited for it to end. And I tried to explain to my teacher what I wanted to learn and I still couldn’t enjoy playing it. Two years after I started learning guitar, I stopped.

      For about three years, I hardly played the guitar. The lack of desire I had from the lessons prevented me from getting close to the instrument. When I was in ninth grade, a question came to my mind. A question that changed my entire perception of playing the guitar and, in fact, the world of music. I don’t like the fact that I have a guitar in my room that stands out, so why shouldn’t I learn to play what I love on my own? When I thought about this question, I went straight back to playing. I didn’t know how or what to do, and I realized that it didn’t matter. Over time, I improved on my own. Slowly, the path to my goal became clearer and clearer. I practically managed to understand how I would achieve the achievement I wanted so much, to play the guitar. I learned songs that I liked, each time I challenged myself anew. Once I learned a song with a new technique or at a more difficult level, and that’s how I improved. But something small about me, I was always quiet and insecure. I would always play to myself quietly, and I always avoided playing in front of people. I used excuses like I’m not good, I haven’t played in a long time, etc…

      At the end of 12th grade, the high school where I studied always has a graduation show. And I knew I wanted to play in it. To play on stage in front of my friends, in front of my parents and basically the whole school. I set this goal for myself in 11th grade. Therefore, I had a year to practice.

      The 12th grade graduation ceremony arrived and I came insecure but determined to play in the ceremony. The rehearsals for the ceremony were actually one of my achievements in actually playing in front of people. There was a drum band, bass guitar, saxophone, a lead singer and me on guitar. I enjoyed every rehearsal. The first time I felt pressure, discomfort, and fear playing was when the rest of the school students came to hear the band for the first time. The most stressful moment was a minute before I started playing. I was very nervous, my hands were sweating, shaking, but I realized that it was just part of the moment. I finished playing and I was smiling. Not only did I enjoy it, but the audience enjoyed it too. I received reviews, my friends were enthusiastic, and I had a crazy amount of adrenaline.

      The real moment arrived, and the show I had been waiting for since the 11th grade arrived. My friends and parents came to the audience, and in a few minutes I went on stage to play. Once again I was stressed, afraid, and my hands were shaking. This feeling didn’t go away. Many thoughts went through my head about how I would screw up and ruin everything. And all of that disappeared when I started playing. A great experience, I enjoyed every moment. The audience enjoyed it, my friends enjoyed it, and I managed to achieve my goal.