for those of you who dont know, i spent several years at the Mori violin studio. this was the most interesting phase of my life. for four hours every day (eight during the "hell week" before august competitions) i would live in that studio, under the control of these two scientologist nazis. granted, they were the BEST violin teachers around and i had a lot of fun with my friends when i could escape their everwatchful eye, but still...all the terrible memories i still carry with me( i have soooo many, it's not even funny). anyway, i decided to write about one of my memories for college essays (one down, millions to go...) this is a TRUE STORY! anyway, enjoy.

Many people grew up attached to a cuddly teddy bear or a Raggedy Ann doll. I grew to fear stuffed animals, especially ones with plastic eyes. A significant portion of my childhood was spent at my violin teachers’ studio. Many students would often complain to their parents about their strict teaching methods. Yet because these teachers, who both graduated from Julliard, were famous for producing phenomenal violinists, many of our parents disregarded our complaints and submitted us into their hands every day. Practicing ridiculous hours at their studio was enough for me to handle at the age of eight. But dealing with all of their creepiness became unbearable. They decorated their teaching rooms with thousands of small glittery, reflective Sanrio animal stickers. In addition, dozens of stuffed animals lined the walls and the couch, turning the room into a sparkling zoo house. They believed that playing in front of this “audience” would enhance our performing skills. There was some truth in that belief, for the fear of playing with thousands of little beady inhuman eyes constantly staring was far more frightening than any of my real performances. These teachers, however, never anticipated the look of the room with the absence of light. After one particularly dismal recital, they forced me to replay the Bach A-minor in front of them, and decided to put me in a spotlight to turn the room into a concert hall. I remember standing in the circle of light and looking out around the dark room, hoping to find some sign of life out there that would ease this stage fright. In the deep cave of darkness around me the thousands of glittering animals glared at me. and right in the center were the two biggest pairs of eyes, those of my teachers. I froze and couldn’t play a note. Ever since that day, I have hated stuffed animals with plastic eyes.