I always thought that presenting things was the worst thing about school. It’s just something about being put out there with everyone staring at me that makes me uncomfortable. Some people describe it as butterflies in your stomach and that is exactly how it feels, like your stomach keeps twisting and turning, almost like when you get sea sick.. Anyway I had a music project where I had to sing a song in front of my whole class. At the moment my teacher said that, my stomach started turning. In my mind I was thinking that I was doing well in Music Class so far that I could miss this one assignment. I was wrong. The second I felt relieved, my teacher said that this project was worth 50% of my grade. Once he said that I just lost all hope. I thought there is now way around it, I’m going to have to sing.
I thought of all of the excuses I could. I thought about not evening telling my parents, but if my grades come in with an “F” in Music, my parents would ask about what happened to my grades and I would be grounded. I was so caught up about this project that I didn’t see that my friends were upset about it too. By the time Igot home I decided that I would rather be grounded than be publicly humiliated.When I got home I was so mad and frustrated that I ran into my room and slammed the door. While in my room I questioned “why do I have to sing in music class when we never had any kind of practice and why is it worth half of my grade.”All night I was complaining about how the school was crap and it didn’t have real teachers, only adults making us do crazy and stupid things.. Like my art teacher, I wondered “Why does she make us read about famous artists and then answer questions about them? Why don’t we ever draw?” After hours of complaining I slowly dozed off to sleep.
When I woke up I got ready for school and I thought about telling my mom I was sick, so I wouldn’t have to present. When I went to her she looked at me as if she could read my mind and said, “You’re not sick. You’re going to school.” I don’t know why I tried; she’s too smart for that. When she dropped me off at school, I got out the car and started walking up to school, I felt as if people were staring at me. The first class I had was music so my torture came quick. When I was in class my teacher went around the room and asked everyone if they were prepared with their songs. By the time it got to me I got nervous and I forgot what I was going to say. So I just said no, I didn’t have anything. When I said that everyone stared at me and I got that same funny feeling in my stomach when I’m put on the spot light. While everyone else sang their songs I was sitting therewith my stomach feeling sick. When class was over my stomach was still filled with butterflies, I went the whole day with that feeling in my stomach. When school was over and I went home my stomach was still twisting, I went to bed early oping it would help.
The next morning my stomach wasn’t acting up, so I got ready for school.. While I was eating breakfast my mom asked me why I slammed my door last night and skipped dinner. I told her that was two nights ago she laughed and said that I was crazy. I checked the calendar in the kitchen and today was the day of the music project. I asked myself was everything just a dream. It was.
When I arrived at school everything was normal. No one was staring at me..Before music class started I asked my friends if they had any suggestions of what I should do. They had nothing, so I asked would they mind singing together. They didn’t care, they actually seemed relieved. Two classmates and I decided to sing “Lean on Me.” Being in front of the class was nerve wrecking. But I felt better because I wasn’t alone. In the end everything worked out, we got a B on the project. I am surprised I didn’t have butterflies in my stomach.