My Opera Singer

My daughter amazes me.  She is so strong.  She could easily just say that she is too tired, too worried about having a seizure in front of people, too scared, but she doesn't!  She never gives up and I am so amazed by her strength.  In February she was able to perform in an opera.  She sings with the Utah Children's Choir and they were asked to sing in Utah Lyric Opera's production of La Boheme.  Jeff and I were worried.  It was very possible that she could have a seizure on stage, but the amazing directors of  the opera were incredible!  They not only allowed Alyssa to be in it but they also put Astro on stage with her!  They could have easily said no.  They are a semi professional company, and yet they were willing to take a risk in order for Alyssa to have this experience.  I am still amazed at their kindness.

The children's chorus was in the second act which takes place in a town square during a celebration.  They made Alyssa a street urchin who was pretending to be blind to be able to beg more successfully.  Thus, Astro was her seeing eye dog.  She begged at the main character who send her away empty handed and she got to kick him in the shins.  She did such a great job!  The children's chorus was so good!  The entire opera was in Italian and they all knew every word and its correct pronunciation.  I loved watching the entire process and have now become an opera fan!

It was an incredible experience and Alyssa had a marvelous time, but what amazed me most about her was her maturity level in regards to what her body needed to be successful.  She did not want to have a seizure on stage and knew that it could easily happen so she took it upon herself to not let it happen if possible.  Each night of the performance as the first act began she would find a quiet corner and would lay down on Astro and try to doze off for a few minutes.  As soon as she would slip into sleep, sure enough, a seizure would strike.  She purposefully caused her body to have a seizure, knowing that it would give her enough time to perform and get back off the stage before another one would be likely to hit.  She came up with this plan all by herself and it worked!  She made it though each performance without having a seizure on stage!  The fact that an 11 year old could choose to miss time with friends and find a quiet place in order to force herself to have a seizure is remarkable to me.  She is so smart, so conscientious, so determined and so fearless!  I loved watching her enjoying herself and having an incredible experience despite the challenges that she has.  She is my hero!

My Opera Stars!  I am sure that Astro's trainers never thought that he would be in an opera!

 Alyssa and one of her best friends.  They were both street urchins.

 It's a blurry picture but this is her onstage with her little round, dark glasses that she wore.

The children's chorus.  Such wonderful kids!  They all love Alyssa and Astro and have decided that Astro is the best pillow pet in the world.  He is not only soft, but is also warm, gives kisses and is always with Alyssa! :)

Most Likely to Succeed2

At the end of each school year the middle school students in each grade pick out their peers and award them the status of most friendly, smartest, most likely to succeed and many other things.  Tyler and Alyssa were both chosen by their peers as the Most Likely to Succeed.  I have never taken much stock to these types of awards as they tend to label kids but this year they have caused me to think.

 For Tyler, this is an award that he has been awarded before.  Tyler's teachers love him.  He is a model student.  He follows all rules, he engages in classroom discussions and he is extremely bright and does well in school.  From all outward appearances, he looks like he has it all.  However, most people are not aware of the demons that he fights on a daily basis disguised as extreme anxiety and depression.  He puts on an amazingly strong face and for those of us who know what he faces each and every day, it truly is a miracle that he is as successful as he is.   As his mother I worry about his future.  I can see his potential, but I also see his worst days.  I fear that he will not be able to accomplish what he is capable of but this award has made me re-look at my son.  He is successful and if he can continue to trust himself and see himself as others see him, he will always be successful!

I have to be honest and say that I was actually shocked that Alyssa's peers chose her as the Most Likely to Succeed.  Shocked!  These 6th graders nailed it!  If any one is going to be successful it is my Alyssa, because she is already successful!  She is not the typical person that is chosen as one who is most likely to succeed.  She has a chronic illness, she has a service dog because of her disability, she has an IEP and can't always get to school on time and yet the fact that she is happy, friendly, and one to never give up makes her successful.  She is not allowing her disability to stop her.  I can see this, but I am amazed that her fellow 6th graders recognized it in her.  Kids are often smarter that we give them credit for.

what is success?  I think that as members in society we often consider those who make the most money, or who are famous, or leaders of large corporations, as those who are most successful, but Tyler's and Alyssa's peers have caused me to think about what success really is.  Anyone can be successful when we don't let our challenges limit and dictate who we are.  Success is different for everyone.  The key is to not compare.  Jared is successful when he is able to count to 10 without making a mistake.  Tyler is successful when he is able to cope with an especially chaotic day.  Alyssa is successful when she doesn't let the fear of a seizure keep her from doing what she loves.  I am successful when I don't lose my temper when the kids are driving me crazy.  Anyone who never gives up and keeps trying to be the best that they can be day after day is successful.  I think that our Heavenly Father would give us all the award of Most Likely to Succeed.  He knows our potential.  He knows that if we keep trying and trust in him, that we can all become the best that we can be and that, is true success.  So next time I am comparing myself, or anybody for that matter, to the worlds view of success, I am going to remember the lesson that some middle school students taught me about what success truly is.