Keep the faith, just do it!

Do you know what faith is?

Faith is the confidence of what we believe in will happen surely. It is like a beam of light that shines into people's life that brings hope to people and enables people to find the meaning or even the value of each unique soul that being in this world. People needs to have faith to support a person on finding a right path in this endless life, next only they can set goals and move forward in order to achieve their goals. Otherwise, people will only work nine to five shifts every day, with a fixed salary, and living an extremely ordinary life, and as the saying goes, a man without dreams shall perish.

Zoe is a girl who starts her piano lessons since she was five years old. But on her way on learning music, she did not find any reason or her value in it, learning piano is just because this is something her mother asked her to do. On her music journey, she is just like completing a mission that sets by her mother. Therefore, she did not do much practice and also did not perform well on her music learning journey.

Until one day, when Zoe was fifteen, something miraculously changes her mind. It happens when she went to the cinema with her besties and watched a Disney movie which is “Aladdin”. She was amazed by the music when the heroin, Naomi Scott starts to sing the song “Speechless”. In the song, the lyrics “I won’t be silenced, you can't keep me quiet, won't tremble when you try it, all I know is I won't go speechless” was singing infectiously by her.

The way of the song performs links well to the story of the movie, in the movie, despite the heroin is in an unfavorable position, she does not afraid to speak up. Zoe was deeply infected and immersed in the movie even after they came out from the cinema. She does not think before that she will be impressed by a movie’s song one day.

On that day onwards, she found out that music turns out to bring so much power that can even touch people’s deep in the heart. She also feels that music can change a people’s life. On that moment, she made up her mind to learn piano properly, and become a pianist. She hopes that she can hold her own concert and play music for many kinds of movies. She wishes that her music can reach everyone and help them when they are facing problems, or even just help them to have a break when they are in trouble. She vowed to participate in film music.

            Hereafter, when Zoe graduated from high school, it is the time for every graduate to decide where and which course to study. She did not hesitate much as she had a clear mind which is taking a degree in music to further her studies at university. Before she voices out her opinion to her parents, she thinks that she will get support from them, but things do not always turn out the way we want.

When she tells her parents her plans excitedly, her parents opposed her idea and said that she can choose any course that she wants except for music. They think that music is an unstable industry. They do not think that she is able to support her life in future if she wants to work and go further in this industry. Because of the different opinion between Zoe and her parents, she fights back with her parents for the first time and this cause her get scolded because of being impolite to her parents. She felt very disappointed that her parents do not support her and she sadly ran out from home.

            She then goes to find her bestie, Emma. At that moment, she does not know who still she can find and talk with. She tells Emma about her plans and dreams and complain that she felt sad when her parents do not understand her. She then thought that her bestie will stand by her side and comfort her after listening to her situation. But the truth is, she gets dampen of her enthusiasm again.

Emma thinks that what her parents consider is correct, dreams only happen in stories and movies, as a human we need to be realistic. She lets Zoe to think at the point of view of her parents and stop quarrelling with them because they are just concerning about her.

She felt downhearted although she knows that what Emma said is right, she did not think that every close people of hers will have such unexpected reaction towards her dream. She starts falling into doubting herself, whether is it wrong to have a dream, whether she has the capability to achieve her dream, whether she can persist in her dream……

Until she has her next piano lesson, she tries to talk about her situation to her piano teacher, Teacher Esther. As the same, she tells her teacher about what happen when she tells her plans and dreams to her parents and Emma, and also her doubt on herself, wishing to get a correct answer from her teacher. Finally, she gets a totally different answer and get inspired.

Teacher Esther: “Actually, there is no right or wrong to have a dream, it is also normal of what your parents and your friend said as most of the people think the same way. The most important is you. How do you think about your dream? Do you think it is worth for you to put all your time focusing on your dream? Take your time to think about it, focus on the sound that came from your heart, you do not need to bother what others said, and if your answer is yes, then just go on and do it. Try to communicate properly with your parents, you must remember that, when there is a will, there is a way. You only live once, try not to let yourself regret.”

That night, Zoe was tossing and turning on her bed, her mind is repeating the words of Teacher Esther over and over, and it last until seven o’clock in the morning of the next day. Eventually, she found her answer.

She wakes up from bed, clean up herself and had a breakfast. After breakfast, she tells her parents that she had something to announced and she invites her parents to sit down in the living room to talk together with a trembling heart.

Zoe: “Daddy, mummy, I have already thought thoughtfully, cautiously, and attentively, I have decided to continue my study in music industry. I understand what you all have tell me and I know that the starting point of you all is for my good, but this is my life, I will surely regret if I did not try my best to do the things that I want. I does not know how my future will be if I cannot achieve my dream, but I can guarantee that I will not regret of what the decision I made today. I hope that you all can trust me and support me. I will try my best to achieve what I wish to.”

While Zoe is expressing her decision to her parents, she dare not open her eyes to see how her parents’ facial expression is. She then only opens her eyes after she finish speaking. Surprisingly, her parents are smiling towards her, thinking that their little daughter has grown up. They feel touch and agree with Zoe in the end, they also promise that they will support her, but she shall not forget what she had said on that day, and she needs to work hard to pursue what she wants. She also shall not regret for the decision that she made.

Zoe’s both eyes shine up, she hugs her parents and thank them for willing to understand her and give chance for her to try and do the things that she loves to. She felt grateful and she also learned how to communicate effectively with her parents through this incident. She apologizes to her parents of being rude to them and promised not to do so again.

            Henceforth, Zoe successfully applies to the university and course that she wants. After that, her daily routine be like practicing piano for at least eight hours, and the remaining time of the day she will only use it for eating, bathing, and sleeping. Even when she has free time, she will only use the time to read books about piano and music. If you saw that she is playing on her phone, with no question, she will definitely be looking videos related in piano and music only. Sometimes she will find out some free time to attend some concerts to observe and learn how other pianist are performing.

            In university, she also learns much music knowledge like how to compose songs, how to express or bring out the story of the songs, how to play more fluently, and many other interesting knowledge that she did not expect before, she does not predict that music still have so many things that she needs to learn and discover. She feels interesting and also increases her love to music.

After attending classes in university, she believes that she did not do a wrong decision. She feels happy everyday attending classes as she is learning something that she has passion in, she did not feel tired or irritable when she learns. When she met some difficulties during her studies, she is willing to find ways to solve the problems but not like some others who find ways to escape the difficulties. She feels satisfied as she saw improvement on herself day by day.

Time flies and finally it is her last year in university, it is also a turning point in Zoe’s life. In that year, her university holds a grand piano competition which is the “Piano Master Competition”. The university has invited a prestigious pianist and a famous music producer as a judge for the competition. Every music student feels excited and look forward to participating in this competition.

Without any hesitation, Zoe signs up for the competition. It is two months until the competition, and she has already started to select songs that she wants to perform in the competition. The competition requires participants to prepare three songs in total. The three songs that Zoe selected is “River Flows in You” by Yiruma, “Ballade pour Adeline” by Richard Clayderman, and “Für Elise” by Beethoven. All these three songs are Zoe’s favorites and are songs that she can find most connectivity with her.

The rest of the time, Zoe concentrates on preparing for the competition. She almost practices the songs for up to ten hours per day. She also seeks help from the lecturers and friends every week after practicing on her own, asking for opinion or correction that she can do on her performance.

Finally, it comes to the day of the competition. This day, her parents, Emma, and Teacher Esther comes to the school hall to cheer for her. Zoe wears a gown, baby blue in color, which is her lucky color. She looks elegant and gorgeous. Everyone who pass by could not hold back and give a glance to her. The only thing that imperfect is she looks slightly nervous. Upon seeing this, Teacher Esther helps her to appease her nervousness.

Teacher Esther: “Relax, remember, when you go up on the stage and sit in front of the piano, what you need to do is just imagine that you are playing piano alone, do not distract by anyone in the hall. Enjoy every single note that is playing on your fingertips, go ahead to feel and enjoy the songs. You can do it!”

Immediately after Teacher Esther had finished talking to Zoe, the host announced that,

“Next, let us give a round applause to welcome our next participant, Ms. Zoe. She is going to play three songs which is “River Flows in You” by Yiruma, “Ballade pour Adeline” by Richard Clayderman, and “Für Elise” by Beethoven. Let us welcome!”.

Zoe gracefully stepped onto the stage and bowed to the audience. The moment when she sits in front of the piano, she feels calm, and she knows that she is ready.

She then plays on the piano calmly, song by song. All the audience immersed in the music that plays by her, even the judges started to close their eyes and enjoy her music. The music that plays by her are so healing and soothing. After finishing her performance, she stands up and bowed to the audience again to thank everyone. At last, she gets the most enthusiastic applause of that day. Her parents, teacher, and friends are happy for her because they know that she has do it. Zoe’s mother even moved to tears seeing that her daughter is able to perform so well.

Finally, it is the time to announce the results. All the participants and audience were tense as they wish to get a good prize but there is just a champion.

Host: “Now comes to the most exciting moment, who will be the champion of our 2021 Piano Master Competition? The winner goes to……Ms Zoe! Congratulation!”

The time was like suddenly freezing for Zoe, she stunned as she could not believe that she won the champion. Her parents, Teacher Esther and Emma burst into tears and hug her tightly with full of happiness. After a few seconds only she calms down and go towards the stage to receive this glory. She was honoured that she can received the trophy from the pianist and music producer.

Zoe: “I feel very happy, and I really need to thank my father and mother for letting me to learn music. Thanks to my family and friends who support and give good advice to me when I need to make big decisions. Lastly, the most special thanks to my teacher, Teacher Esther. Thank you for giving me knowledge not only in music, but also helps me with every big and small thing I face in my life. I feel grateful to have you as my piano teacher. Thank you.”

After Zoe’s thank you speech, her parents, teacher, and friends were happy that she remembers everyone’s kindness to her. After that, the music producer announced a good news which is he will be inviting Zoe to perform in a song which is a new movie music that is going to be release in next year. Zoe cannot believe what she had heard just now. Finally, Zoe moved to tears. It is really an unpredicted surprise and a big award for her. She was happy that the efforts that she has put in is not in vain. She has accomplished her dream. She thanks herself that she does not give up when there is hinder in her life.

After a year, there was a song that become an everyday topic for everyone. People praised that the music was very pleasant and encouraging. The song can be heard in every shop and street. It also receives numerous awards, and it is in the everyday playlist on the radio.

One day, Zoe goes to the cinema with her besties. While enjoying the movie, she felt happy and touched that at last, she finally can hear music that is perform by herself to be played in a movie. She is very happy seeing that everyone loves it. She is glad that she did not get lost in this long journey, her hard work has been paid back, and her wish has come true.