Beth - My Favorite Teacher

    Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I love music and that I love singing. It's possible that some may have heard me humming or mumbling a little tune whilst walking down the hall, or even felt ignored because I had my music playing too loudly through my earbuds to hear what they had to say. Some of my closer friends have heard me sing, whether it be me goofing off or actually trying to sound good. I wasn't always as open with my voice as I am today; it took one year and the help of one person to get me to come out of my shell.
    My favorite teacher was my 9th grade choir teacher, Drew Warren. His job was to somehow teach thirty plus kids how to sing in-tune, in-time, and to give us a little music theory. He may have only taught here at Riverside for one year, but he taught me things that changed my views on myself and others.
    Firstly, he taught me that no person can really use the "I can't sing," excuse. Any voice can be developed to its full potential and sound beautiful with practice. On the opposite spectrum, not all voices are suited for a particular piece. I remember him telling me that my own voice would fit well in the categories of R&B, gospel, and anything with soul. I think that little lesson has influenced my music choice a lot, as I went from listening to mainly alternative rock to acoustic R&B. Perhaps the most important thing he taught me was that I was good enough. Not just in the musical sense, but good enough for anything. He helped me find this hidden confidence within myself that I never knew I possessed; in that same regard, he guided me to my voice. Suddenly, I went from being the quiet kid in class to being apart of the discussion.
    Fortunately, I still get to see Mr. Warren a few times a year at various music events such as All-Region and Choir Camp. I always remind him of how much he's impacted my life, and of how much of a jerk he is for leaving after just one year.