A Toast

We all have a past life. Within that past life, there are those who came before us who are now known as authorities. My previous life's authorities? The big three: Bach, Mozart & Beethoven. My new life's 'big three'? Nightingale, Henderson & Pellico.
Did you know that I am a classically trained violinist? I went to music school and I have a music degree. Where am I now, you ask? I'm in nursing school. Did you just laugh? It's okay...most people do. Sometimes, I even laugh at myself, to be honest. Oh yeah, I just followed the normal sequence of events: high school, music degree, Italian degree, nursing school! It's not even as though I put the cart before the horse. Forget the cart. I took the horse and put it on top of a bowling ball. That's how I feel, some most of the time. Except, you know what? I'm not a horse. I am most definitely a zebra.
Have you ever heard the first movement from Brahms' Fourth Symphony? It's one of those movements that is so heartbreakingly beautiful, full of various musical elements. It really sets the stage for the rest of the symphony. But it is long. Very long. Very long and dense. When I performed it last year, I loved every second of it, but I was so relieved when it came to a close. I am now going to make a very intelligent musical parallel. GEPN year is the first movement of Brahms' Symphony No. 4. Very long, very dense, and hopefully over sooner rather than later. That was for everyone who thought I wouldn't be using my music degree in nursing school. I really have more insight than you all thought.
So even though I often question how I got here and whether I'm on the same page as everyone else who came from ridiculously good schools and ridiculous science backgrounds, I realize that we are all working towards the same goal now. There is no competition because we are on an equal playing field. If we are all successful, we will be colleagues, not competitors. We may all be holding on for the end, but there is a force greater than us all carrying us there as we all work together. Symphony playing has taught me a lot about that, believe me. In music, it's important to realize that there is always a bigger picture but that your role is so crucial. Even if I make a mistake or skip a beat, I will be carried through it by the support of my colleagues. So, as I raise my glass to the end of the first semester, I toast you all. Here's to the journey, the company, and the cadence.