“I’ll see you inside!”  My overly-excited dad called out as he drove away to find a parking spot in the minivan-filled parking lot at Charles Barrett Elementary School.

“That is if you can find a parking spot!” I called out.  I walked up the gray concrete steps leading me to the door.  Tonight was the night of the 2011 Charles Barrett Annual Talent Palooza.  I had been in the talent show two years ago but it was nothing like this year.  In second grade, I did a silly dance with a friend but this year I was going to sing all by myself, with no music.  When I walked into the cafeteria all my friends were there getting ready in their super fancy costumes that their moms had made months ahead of time.  I met up with a group of girls that I was doing a skit with.  After about 20 minutes of waiting for everyone to arrive, the parents ushered all of the kids into the seats that had big “RESERVED FOR PERFORMERS” signs on  them, and the talent show began.

As the performances started, I got more and more nervous.  My heart was pounding, my body was shaking, and my hands were starting to sweat.  I was starting to rethink my decision to participate in the talent show at all.  The host of the show, Mrs. Courtney, called my group’s name.  Our skit was a huge success.  No one forgot their lines, everyone in the audience was laughing, and we all were having so much fun.  After we finished our skit, I made a mad dash to the bathroom to change into my outfit for my second performance.  I made it back to the auditorium just in time to see a few more acts before I had to go on stage.  I saw Ms. Jamie, the backstage manager, wave her hand at me which let me know it was my turn to go on stage.  Only this time, I would be alone.

As I was standing backstage, the nerves really started to hit me.  I was sweating so much that I could feel the tape connecting the microphone to my face start to slide off.  Mrs. Courtney started to introduce me and I was thinking about leaving the stage.  But I knew that was not a possibility.  I took a few steps onto the stage and stopped.  I wanted to cry, but I had to keep going.  I took a few more steps and now I stood in the middle of the stage, alone, with a sweaty microphone taped to my face.  I had no music to perform with so I could start when I was ready, but I was not ready.  The spotlight was so bright, it made my eyes water.  As I stared at the audience, I noticed I couldn’t see anything.  I was so blinded by the spotlight that I couldn’t see all of the people staring at me.  I was now standing on stage, confident as can be, and I was ready to perform.  I let out the first note after almost 5 minutes of me standing on stage silently.  It was easy!  Then I sang a second, and a third, and I kept singing until the end of the song and by that point I was so confident that I could have kept singing forever.

A roaring applause came from the audience.  I thought to myself, was I that good?  They must be clapping for something else.  But I was wrong.  All of the clapping was for me!

“I knew you could do it!”  My mom and dad said as I came down from the stage.  Parents that I didn’t even know were giving me flowers, complimenting me, and telling me that I did great.  It was such a fulfilling  moment because I could look at myself and say that I have the confidence to go up in front of a huge audience and sing all by myself.  After the talent show I sang in front of people like it was my job.  Performing in the talent show taught me that even though I may doubt myself, I know that I can do anything if I just try my best.  And even if I don’t succeed the first time I try, I can always try again.  Singing in the talent show was truly an experience that made my confidence level skyrocket.