Since I started in 7th grade I was a very good trumpet player. Music became my passion. All-State, honor. Contests, (band members know.) I would play/ sing, get a very good score. Vocal and instrumental. I knew how much everyone practiced and how competitive people could be. I did enough to keep first chair but to let others feel good ı always lost to solos and let them get better scores. They were my "friends" and I wanted to see them succeed too. I got an opportunity to tour across Europe and one night at a party I overheard them saying I only got it because they let me. I knew I was being stupid holding myself back. I toured and when I came home I took a few years off school and haven't touched my trumpet since.