From as long as I can remember I have loved singing. I distinctly remember singing along to songs when I was a toddler in my mum’s car and thinking, I sound a little bit like the artist singing the song (I probably didn’t at that age). But nonetheless I knew it was something I enjoyed doing.
As I got older nerves and anxiety set in and I found it hard to sing in front of anyone. I was learning to play the guitar in secondary school and my guitar teacher would teach me songs and encourage me to sing along but I was painfully shy and just couldn’t do it.
In my younger years I went on to join youth choirs but I never sang publicly on my own. I remember religiously watching the X Factor every year and I used to imagine I was performing and getting all the positive compliments that the real contestants were getting.
When I was 14 I plucked up the courage to audition for the X Factor, I was knocked back by a producer with a superiority complex wearing sunglasses indoors. It wasn’t meant to be, but I didn’t feel too disheartened.
In my late teens I still didn’t sing outside the comfort of my own home, and at 18 I went to university.
I found more confidence when I was at university and I began writing my own songs. It felt great to do something I enjoyed. I didn’t hold myself back, I just sang because it felt right.
I then started doing the occasional open mic night and I loved it. In 2013 I auditioned for Open Mic UK and got through to the regional finals.
READ MORE: 10 Reasons music helps my mental health
Fast-forward to now, and although I don’t make a living singing, I do perform in amateur dramatic shows in my local area, which requires auditioning and singing in front of people on my own.
I also still perform in the open mic nights every once in a while. Last week I auditioned for the new BBC One programme called Little Mix The Search.
The main point I want to make here is that, you’re the only person that holds you back. It’s taken me until the age of 25 to realise that, life is too short to not be doing the things that make you happy. For some reason unbeknown to me I was born with the ability to sing, no-one in my family can sing, so I don’t know why I’m any different. I sometimes think how amazing it is that I was given this voice. I also think if I didn’t use it, it would be a waste of this ability.
If I didn’t take the opportunities that are presented to me, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. I choose not to lead a life of regret, but a life of opportunity and adventure.
So do one thing that scares you today, you never know where this action may take you.
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