Emily's Blog

Music has always had a very special place in my heart. I was in choir starting in 8th grade all the way through high school. The choir room became a refuge and my happy place at school. Whenever I was having a bad day I knew that I could at least look forward to choir. When I would get there, it helped me to cope. There have been many times when I have gone to the choir room either during a study hall or after school and just cried. My choir director Mr. Thompson (who also happens to be my pastor), has been a tremendous help to me. For some of our concerts, we would have teachers and other staff member sing with us so we needed additional rehearsals outside of class. These rehearsals would take place at 7 a.m. before school started. Because I live approximately half an hour away from where I went to high school, I would have to get up extra early, around 5:45 a.m. to get ready and out the door. On those days my choir teacher would pick me up and we would always stop and get coffee.

      Change can be a wonderful thing, a terrible thing, or even both. This last May I graduated high school and will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Richland next fall. This is both wonderful and scary at the same time as college is quite different from high school. Classes will be run differently and will also be harder academically. I will also have to get used to all new people. My pastor and his family are also moving away and this is very hard on me. My pastor was also my choir teacher for three years and his wife serves as a mother figure to me. I am also very close to their kids. However, whatever may come, I know I can always trust God and give my worries to because of what it says in Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Love in Christ, Emily Vanyi-Vine