Who Made You the Expert?

You've asked me yet again about my carpal tunnel.

How is it, you ask? It's just fine, I guess. I mean, it's just fine because nothing has changed. It's not like I woke up this morning and it magically disappeared. I can't just snap my fingers and it's gone.

You think I'm being cynical? Well I guess you just don't understand. Have you ever had carpal tunnel? Do you even know the first thing about it? Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude. It's hard to have so many people ask me about it so offhandedly.

What is that? You ask if I've been icing it? Well of course, every night.

You wonder if I've been wearing my brace? Well of course, I only take it off when I shower.

You say I should use my wrist less. Oh really? Well, how do you expect me to play in two ensembles, practice daily for private lessons, and do my schoolwork without my wrist?

You argue I should just stop playing my instruments. That just does not make sense to me. I don't understand why I have to stop doing what I love because I have an injury. Music is part of my identity; carpal tunnel is not. Why should I surrender part of my identity because of a physical obstacle? I won't give up that easily.

You say it's probably something I'm doing wrong. Maybe I should stop wearing a heavy backpack because the heavy weight causes tension in my back that transfers to my wrist. You say I should tilt my head forward when I play the clarinet because the stiffness in my neck transfers to my wrist. You say I am probably eating the wrong foods and need to start eating more greens and fruits that will decrease inflammation. I'm probably sleeping wrong too. If I were just more cautious when I slept, I would put less pressure on my wrist.

Well you know what? Maybe I'm tired of hearing all of your suggestions. Maybe I'm tired of your temporary concern for my well-being and your random pieces of advice. I'm sorry, but you are not a creative genius; I have heard these suggestions before. I have heard them time and time again and I am tired of them.

Minor changes, such as eating different foods and controlling how I sleep, are not going to magically fix my problem. When you try all of these strategies at the same time they make a small difference, but not a noticeable one.

I'm sorry. I don't mean to be cynical. I understand that my situation could be much worse. I understand that I am one among many injured musicians suffering from cases of carpal tunnel and tendinitis far worse than my own.

You just need to understand that I'm growing weary of your advice. I know you mean well and you do really care. I appreciate that you want to help, but I can't stand to listen to your advice any longer. It makes me feel hopeless about my current condition. Your comments only remind me that my condition is no longer reparable. This reminder pushes me into a state of negativity quite unlike my normally positive outlook on life.

If you want me to be happy and optimistic about my carpal tunnel, please just stop asking me about it for the sake of asking. If I want to talk about it I will let you know, and I promise I will appreciate your advice. For now, though, please let me try to deal with my condition independently of your advice.

Pinky Up, Dear

What Your CSL Etiquette Says About Your Character and Self-Esteem

The CSL is a very important place, the social hub of Augustana's campus. Even if you don't have a meal plan or don't eat at the CSL on a regular basis, you still know what the CSL is if you go to Augustana College. The CSL's importance stems from the power food has in bringing people together. Everybody loves food, and even if you don't particularly enjoy all of the food the CSL provides, you probably enjoy some of the foods and have gone enough to learn the "ins and outs" of dining at the CSL. The following scenarios present the ways in which a person's CSL etiquette defines that person's character and self-esteem.


Scenario 1: Neglecting to put tops back on the soup containers

In this first scenario, Nicole neglected to replace the tops on the soup containers after she dished up some tomato basil soup. This really does not seem to be a significant problem, but this actually speaks loudly of her character. Nicole's negligence shows a degree of apathy. She has not considered that the CSL worker now has to take extra time to replace the lids on the soup containers. She is letting heat out and making the soup colder for everyone else. Her inability to do even the most simple polite gestures makes one fear how she might address the needs of others in a broader context.



Scenario 2: Putting silverware on the conveyor belt

 In this second scenario, Nicole is consciously deciding to put her silverware on the conveyor belt, even though there is a sign asking those who dine to throw their silverware down the shoot. Nicole is once again being apathetic. She does not care that the CSL dish-washers have to take extra time to put her silverware with everyone else's silverware. Nicole is being extremely lazy. All she has to do is pick up the silverware from her plate and throw it down a shoot located directly in front of her, but instead she chooses to put it on the conveyor belt. She feels no guilt, or if she does, it soon disappears.

Scenario 3: Eating too many cookie bars and brownies

In this third scenario, Nicole is eating two cookie bars and a brownie in one sitting. Our society would call this "too many" cookie bars and brownies. From society's standpoint, we can analyze this situation in multiple ways. Nicole is possibly eating so many sweets because she is upset about something, and she's just eating her problems away. Or perhaps, Nicole is confident enough to disregard  what society labels as "too many" sweets and eats whatever she wants to eat in whatever quantity.





Scenario 4: Eating alone at a large table

In this fourth scenario, Nicole is enjoying her multiple desserts alone at one of the large round tables. This particular scenario says quite a bit about the type of person Nicole is. First, Nicole may be very lonely. She is unable to find anyone to eat with at lunch and must resort to eating alone. Perhaps she likes eating alone, but in many cases, people do not prefer to eat alone. Perhaps Nicole struggles to make friends and must suffer the humiliation of sitting alone because she could not find anyone who wanted to sit with her. Second, Nicole is again being very rude. There are multiple smaller tables in the CSL that Nicole could have chosen to sit at when enjoying her desserts, but instead she chose to sit at a 6-8 person table by herself, an action that personally bothers me when I am looking for a table in the CSL. If the CSL is very full, a large group will not be able to sit together because she has taken the entire table for herself. Was it truly necessary that Nicole sit at this table?


Scenario 5: Stealing those delicious cookie bars and brownies

In this final scenario, Nicole has gotten over the fact that she had to eat alone and has moved on to much bigger and better things: stealing sweets and hiding them in her backpack. It is extremely common for students to take extra sweets or fruits and stash them away in their backpacks before leaving the CSL. The CSL provides many quick foods to grab and save for later, but these foods are not intended to be taken in large quantities. Students take them and hide them in their backpacks because they know what they are doing is wrong. Nicole is showing a clear disregard for rules by putting away more desserts in her backpack.




While many of these scenarios may seem silly or insignificant, I believe they actually say a lot about a person's character and self-esteem. We all see these various scenarios played out in the CSL on a daily basis. However, they may have more meaning than it seems. The ways in which people conduct themselves in public say a lot about them. A person who sits alone in the CSL may experience a low self-esteem or insecurity. Does this seem to be true? And does a person who refuses to replace a lid on a soup bowl or put silverware down the silverware shoot not care about how it affects other people?

I think the ways in which we handle the little things say a lot about how we handle the big things. I argue that if we cannot handle easy tasks like putting a lid back on a container, we cannot handle dealing with more significant public issues in our careers and adult lives. Next time you visit the CSL, take the time to consider how your actions affect others. The little things speak wonders about the big things.

*Thank you to Nicole Chase for being my model. I do not believe you are apathetic, rude or insecure. You are great.*

E-dentity Crisis

I'm having an e-dentity crisis.

I'm having an e-dentity crisis because of what I found when I "Googled" myself. When I "Googled" myself I expected to find standard results such as my social media accounts and links to articles from my high school or youth symphony, but I never expected to find my name linked to my brother's.

In this picture, my brother William just looks like a goofy dude. However, William is practically a genius. In 2010 he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship, a scholarship given to 32 students across the United States to help them pursue a degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom gratis. William also won the Boettcher Scholarship during his senior year of high school, receiving a full-ride to any 4-year institution in the state of Colorado.

My brother is an extremely intelligent and hard-working individual, along with an exceptionally loving brother. I am honored to be his sister, but I am also so tired of constantly living in his shadow. I have been called "William's sister" more times than I can count, and I am honestly sick of it. When you type "Rebekah Gohl" into the Google search engine, you are linked to William Gohl's profile on the Rhodes Scholarship website. I cannot escape from the title of "William's sister," even on the worldwide web.

So I decided to start exploring my Facebook and Instagram photos to see what other titles I have on the Internet. The pictures below display my role as a friend, sister, cousin, daughter, and student. I like having all of these roles. They demonstrate my desire to be a loving person and a positive contribution to my immediate community.

We all have roles in society. However, being placed in these roles on the Internet bothered me for some reason. I do not like to be thought of as "Peter's sister" or "John and Mary's daughter" or "Natalie's cousin." All of these titles describe part of who I am, but they do not express my whole self. I like to be thought of as Rebekah Gohl, a unique individual.  It seems that even on social media, I cannot escape from society's labels.

So what does all of this mean? I think it reinforces the idea that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Sure, I am "John and Mary's daughter" and "William's sister," but I am a much more unique individual than a set of titles and labels. If you look deeper into my profiles, you will discover my ceaseless passion for music and my growing faith. You will discover how I want to keep trying to be a better person, even though I know I am far from perfect. You will also discover how much I love the people I am blessed to have in my life. These aspects, along with my titles of "sister" or "daughter" or "friend," make up my true identity. As in real life, our e-dentities are defined not solely by what appears on the surface, but also by what lies underneath. Both in social media and real life, we need to look beyond the titles and faces of people to discover and appreciate who they truly are underneath it all.

Pitbull, You've Done It Again

Each one of us has a certain quality or characteristic about ourselves which we are not proud of. Maybe you have one extra toe on your right foot, or you have a really ugly laugh. I, regrettably, have a secret passion for today’s hip hop/rap hits. Music taste is extremely important to many teens and young adults today. It is easy for people to connect when they have similar tastes in music. This explains why I get many dirty looks or dramatized gasps when I tell people that I like hip hop/rap. I get responses such as: “Of all the music, why that music?” and “There is so much better stuff to listen to.” And of course, my favorite: “You’re a musician. Shouldn’t you be listening to that classical stuff instead?”

But I mean, c’mon, you all are not innocent here.

Admit it. You started tapping your foot the first time you heard “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. You have danced to “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift at least once, even if it was alone in your room. And, if you are anything like me, you know every word to Lil Mama’s “Lip Gloss” and you are proud of it.

Okay, so maybe today’s pop and rap hits are not so bad.

But are they?

As a musician, I understand the powerful affect music has on the mind and body. In fact, I want to become a music therapist because I want to use the power of music to help people. I do not believe listening to music is a passive activity. Even if you are working on homework and the music is playing quietly in the background, you are still retaining the melodies and words you are hearing.

So, I think it is important to consider the message an artist is portraying in his/her music.

Let’s look at Pitbull’s music. Okay, maybe your music taste is refined enough that you would not stoop to the level of Pitbull. However, please humor me. Do not tell me you did not bop your head a little bit the first time you heard “Fireball.” It is a catchy song and you cannot deny that in good conscience.

I remember the first time I heard “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull. They played it at many of my high school dances and all of the middle school dances I chaperoned during high school. The song is easy to dance to and it has a good beat, but it took multiple times of listening to the song to actually hear what it was saying. Here are the lyrics to the melody:

“Tonight I want all of you tonight

Give me everything tonight

For all we know we might not get tomorrow

Let’s do it tonight”

The message of this song is that Pitbull wants a girl to “go all the way with him” tonight, or to have sex with him tonight because they “might not get tomorrow.” Why won’t they get tomorrow? I guess the reason could be that the world might end. However, the reason is probably that they will never see each other again.

I hate this message from Pitbull’s song. It implies that Pitbull just picked up a girl, maybe at a club or a bar, and he wants to have sex with her tonight because after tonight, he probably will not try to ever see her or talk to her again.

I mean, I cannot be surprised by Pitbull’s attitude towards sex. Pop/rap music has been diminishing the value of sex for decades now. I just never realized until now that lyrics from songs such as these promote the powerlessness of women.

I stepped back and considered that maybe I could excuse this one song, only if Pitbull’s other songs seemed to have good messages. I mean, he is not the only artist out there whose songs have immoral meanings. I went to his list of songs on Spotify, and the first title that caught my eye was “Everybody F***s.” Let’s look at some of the lyrics Pitbull wrote:

                “I know it’s straight to the point

                But I’d rather be straight up and straight forward

                Instead of playing with your heart and your mind

                Games are a waste of time, now we can do the nasty

                And do what the do and see what the does

                Either we gon love what we do to each other

                Or just let it be what it was

                No harm, no foul, no commitment, no vows

                Maybe a contract or two

                But by that time I’m already tired of the way you like it, oh

                And let your body decide, exactly what it does

                But it’s no secret baby, everybody f***s”

               

Please, excuse me while I step away from my computer and vomit.

When I read this, I was shocked by the nerve of Pitbull to say such vulgar words. But more importantly, I was appalled by myself for listening to songs like this so passively for so many years and never questioning myself.

This song, along with Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything,” is clearly aimed toward women. The message Pitbull is trying to send toward women through his songs is that they must have sex with men right when the men ask for it. Why? Well, for the two best reasons I can think of. First, because they might not ever see each other again. And second, because everybody does it.

At this point, you might be tuning out because you do not like Pitbull. You will never like Pitbull so this post does not apply to you. Maybe you are right about that. Pitbull’s songs are not aimed towards 18 and 19-year-old college students. However, they are aimed at young teenagers, aged 13-16. As I read these lyrics and reflected on their meaning, I pictured myself when I was 15. I was much more susceptible to negative messages portrayed by the media. I did not realize if something was bad or immoral. I listened to music that everyone else was listening to so I could fit in. I did not listen to music because I carefully analyzed the content of the lyrics and ultimately found that they were clean. I can imagine that most of you behaved in a similar manner.

So, 15-year-old girls are being fed the message that they have to submit to the demands of men to have sex with them, and they are given “justifiable” reasons for doing so. Women are among those subject to the oppression of “powerlessness” in today’s society. In Pitbull’s music, the women are powerless to the demands of men. Whether they actually want to have sex with the men is not important. The important thing is that they have sex, and they do it now. They might not get this chance again, and everyone else is doing it.

I am not trying to say that women are always the ones subject to “powerlessness” in relationships. I understand that men are also easily taken advantage of on a daily basis. I am attempting to acknowledge the stereotype reinforced by the music of Pitbull and other famous hip hop/rap singers: sexually, women are powerless at the hands of men.

The values of “commitment” and “love” have been dishonored by today’s media. Even in Pitbull’s song, we hear that he might make a couple of contracts with women, but by then he is “already tired of the way [they] like it.” Young women are shown that they have no power in relationships. Even if they want commitment, they have to worry that maybe the men will grow tired of them or resist their attempts at commitment. The only way to keep the guy around is to “seal the deal” physically. And even then, they might not ever see the guy again after that night. It all depends on whether he “likes the way she does it.” The woman really has no power. She is exploited for her body and her sexual abilities.

I never thought of these lyrics as means of exploitation. I knew Pitbull’s lyrics were filthy, but his lyrics were just there. They did not mean anything.

The problem is that they do mean something. And now that I am a girl on a college campus that reports numerous cases of sexual assault annually, I realize their meaning has significance. Girls are told from the beginning to be powerless, to give in to the demands of men to have sex because everybody does and this is their only chance. I am not saying that Pitbull is the reason why sexual assault is becoming a serious problem on college campuses. That is not logical. However, I am arguing that the media fills our minds with lyrics and messages that we take in, consciously or subconsciously. If we are not careful, we will start to take what these lyrics are saying to heart. That can be a good thing with some lyrics, but based on the example of Pitbull’s songs, it can also be a very bad thing. As a woman, I worry about the future of women in an age where the demand for sex is considered “okay.” As a developing adult, I worry about the messages I allow myself to take in through music and other forms of media.

I know that we cannot get rid of all negative messages portrayed by song artists like Pitbull. They have the free will to say whatever they want. However, I do know, and firmly believe, that we have control over what we listen to. If we hear a song with an immoral or degrading message, we have the power to turn it off. We also have the power to encourage our peers to stop listening to this music too.

So next time I turn on Spotify, I am going to be more careful about what I let myself listen to. And as a woman who just genuinely wants other women to feel they have power in sexual matters, I encourage all of you to do the same. 

The Short End of the Stick

Ira Morton is the type of literary character that evokes pity from the reader. His wife dies suddenly while his children are still young, and his son Fred moves to France to fight in the war and die for it. Ira is left to tend the corn fields of the original Morton property with little help from the only remaining member of his immediate family, mischievous Madeline. Ira shows signs of mental instability, obsessively caring for his corn at all costs. Ira seems helpless. The reader might think Ira cannot help himself, but can he? Does his instability and loneliness truly excuse his obsessive care for his corn and his resentment towards Madeline's decision to leave the college and face a prison sentence? Let's ask him.


Me: Ira, I believe that your disapproval of Madeline's decision to leave the college and go to prison for her beliefs is unreasonable. Madeline seems to be the only student at Morton College willing to take a stand against the deportation of Bakhshish. She seems to be the only one who understands what "democracy" and "Americanism" really mean.

Ira: Madeline's defense of Bakhshish does not represent "Americanism." If Madeline really wanted to show she was "American," she would give up these silly games and help me tend the land of her ancestors. To be "American" is to remember your roots. 

Me: But, would any real change be made in our society if people like Madeline didn't exist? I don't see how the situation with the Hindu students would have ever been addressed if Madeline hadn't made such a big scene.

Ira: I don't see why Madeline had to rush to defend Bakhshish. My wife died because she rushed to save children dying of diphtheria. She abandoned her children and her husband to save people she barely even knew. She was worth more than them, but she died for them. I was left to run the cornfield and raise my children alone. Fred rushed to Paris to help others and to defend "democracy." Now, he is dead and I am even more alone. All of those I love the most have rushed to help others, but what about me? Have you ever thought that maybe I got the short end of the stick? My wife and my son left me to help perfect strangers, and now my daughter is doing the same. My ancestors started this town, and now my family has abandoned it it to pursue "Americanism." What's more American than tending to the land my ancestors left me?

Me: I did not consider how the actions of your most loved ones affected you. The ones whom you cherished most abandoned you to pursue "democracy," and now you are left alone to continue the work of your ancestors. You believed what you were doing showed the truest form of "Americanism," but you never received the support you needed from your wife or children. However, I still do not find you guilt-free. You seem to have resigned to Madeline's desire to leave. Why give up so easily?

Ira: I am not giving up. I would do anything to stop her from going, but not even the corn stays at home. Just as I have not been able to find a way to stop the wind from blowing the corn away, I have not been able to find a way to stop my family from leaving me. 


Perhaps it is understandable for the reader to have pity on Ira. Although he does not support Madeline's actions, his views are understandable if one takes the time to consider his past. He was abandoned by his wife and son in their pursuit of "Americanism," and he simply does not want to lose Madeline too. Ira also sees tending the cornfields as his duty, his continuation of the hard work of his ancestors.

Ira's story demonstrates the importance of understanding the pasts of others before judging them. Although I still find his desire to keep Madeline from going to be somewhat selfish and unreasonable, I understand he just wants to take care of his cornfield and his family. So, even though Ira appeared selfish, maybe he ended up getting the short end of the stick after all.

For Those Wander-lustful Souls: The 7 Reasons Why Everyone Must Travel to Japan

Everyone  is "wander-lustful," craving the excitement and adventure of travelling to an unknown place and trying new and unknown things. In today's advanced technological society, people can wake up one morning and decide to go on a trip, and just a few clicks on a mouse can get them on the next flight to whatever country they desire. Although there are so many options of places to visit, I am convinced that Japan is the best destination for travel. Last summer, I was privileged to spend two weeks touring Japan with my youth symphony. The experience changed my life. I returned convinced that everyone else must travel to Japan and share in this amazing, transforming experience.

These are the 7 best reasons I have to convince others why they must travel to Japan:

1. The 14-hour flight is relatively painless with terrific service.

(www.gopixpic.com)

The 14-hour flight is a major deterrent for anyone considering a trip to Japan. However, Singapore Airlines puts its passengers at ease from the moment they step on the plane. Singapore Airlines, which conducts many flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo, hires flight attendants that show true care for serving passengers. I was impressed by the nice clothing and constant smiles the flight attendants displayed. They were always quick to make sure we were comfortable during our flight. The airline also provided goods such as blankets, pillows, televisions with plenty of free movies, and freshly-steamed towels to rub your hands or cool your face. Any flight can seem to drag on forever, but the long flight was quite bearable with the excellent service and comfort provided by Singapore Airlines. 

2. You'll do things you never thought you would.

(Japanese bathroom picture: en.wikipedia.org)

One aspect of travelling to a new country is doing things you never dreamed of doing. Many parts of Japanese culture are different than American culture, including toilets. In America, a toilet has one knob that is pushed down to flush after use. Japanese toilets are much more complex, including seat warmers,lids that move up and down via motion activation, and remote controls with bidet functions. Even though bidets can be unsettling, your butt will never be cleaner after using one of these! Another aspect of Japanese culture that shocks Americans is communal bathing. In Japan, people strip and shower sitting next to each other in adjacent stalls. Once they have sufficiently soaped and cleaned their bodies, they join together (NAKED) in a hot tub as a way of relaxing after bathing. Bathing naked next to other naked people at first made me extremely uncomfortable, until I realized that bathing was a way of communing in Japan that maintained tradition. Other aspects of culture I participated in included weaving and making chopsticks.

3. You'll try new foods, and some of them will actually taste good!

The best part of travelling to a new country is trying new food. Although I had already eaten Japanese food in America, the food in Japan was much more authentic. The fish in the sushi was always fresh, and many of the meats I sampled came right from Japan. Even though you may think you have tried sushi before, you never actually experience eating sushi until you eat it in Japan. In the picture directly above, the platter included sushi with fish eggs. Other "crazy" foods I got to try included cow tongue, cow intestines, raw octopus, and yellow kiwi. Trying new foods gave me the opportunity to participate in a culture quite different than my own.

4. The children are adorable. 

The children in Japan stole my heart. The child in the top picture belonged to my first host family in Wajima, Japan. She is  proudly displaying a V-sign with her fingers, one of the best-known aspects of Japanese culture. This V-sign, which began as a sign opposing the Vietnamese War, is now displayed by many Japanese people in pictures to express peace. This expression of peace symbolizes the happiness and optimism I met when interacting with Japanese children. Even though the language barrier prevented me from fully understanding the children, they were still incredibly kind and welcoming to me. Yoora, displayed in the picture on the left, spent hours in my room trying to play even though we both were unable to understand each other. Japanese children, unlike American children, are often happy and optimistic. They do not care if you are a different color or race; they just want to be your friend. This unbiased optimism left a mark on my heart.

5. The culture is rich. 

Japan is rich in culture and extremely proud of its heritage. As a tourist, I visited many popular sites in Japan. Unlike American tourist attractions, such as water parks or "world's biggests," the attractions in Japan held wisdom and insight into Japan's past. I visited many Shinto shrines like the one displayed in the top picture. It is easy to appreciate Japan's respect for its religious roots. My homestay families, while showing us the shrines, always stopped to pray. Although the shrines are tourist attractions, they are also treated with respect. I was also privileged to attend "noh" plays, musical dramas that Japanese actors and actresses still perform since the 14th century. Finally, I was exposed to the modesty of Japanese culture through kimono fashion shows. Japan shows pride in its past and respect for traditions carried out even to this day.  

6. The scenery is breathtaking.

It is hard to express the true beauty of Japan in simple words. The pictures really say it all. Japan has breathtaking views of the ocean, along with many beautiful rose gardens and, of course, the volcano Mount Fuji. I was privileged to travel to Japan in the summer, but I am confident that Japan's scenery would take anyone's breath away any day of the year. 

7. The people are welcoming. 

Americans often meet people of different color or ethnicity with hesitance. In Japan, I was met with open arms and excitement. My youth symphony performed many concerts at high schools. The high school students were always extremely excited to welcome us and get to know us. They studiously practiced speaking English in order to talk with us and spent time teaching us many of their favorite activities, such as calligraphy. My host families were also incredibly welcoming and hospitable. They provided us with extravagant meals and ensured that their homes felt like our own homes. I ended all of my stays with them with tears in my eyes and a bigger heart. The Japanese people are unconditionally welcoming and kind to all visitors. 

Everyone must travel to Japan. The experience changed my life and taught me the importance of treasuring my heritage and being hospitable to others. If you want to take a trip and cannot decide where to go, pick Japan. It will change your life and soothe your wander-lustful soul. 

Can you work too hard?

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me in the last month why I wear a wrist brace, I would not have to worry about affording college anymore.

Injuries are common on high school and college campuses, where students can easily get injured from automobile wrecks, sports accidents, or reckless behavior. My story is a bit different. I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel last year. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when too much pressure is placed on the median nerve, the nerve in the wrist that allows feeling and movement in the hand. I have carpal tunnel syndrome because I use my wrist too much. I practice clarinet and piano so much that the pressure builds up on my nerve and I start experiencing tingling sensations and numbing pain.

I never want sympathy from people when they see my wrist brace. I am not a "trouper." Rather, I am a victim of a society that pushes people beyond their limits. I do not have carpal tunnel syndrome because of natural causes. I have carpal tunnel syndrome because I constantly feel the pressure to be a better musician.

I am not the only musician who feels this pressure. Many young musicians suffer from tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, the result of overplaying or playing while under excessive pressure. But I should not claim that only musicians suffer from these injuries. I do not think I have met a single young athlete that has not been injured at some point in his/her career. Some of these injuries are of course accidental, but what about the injuries that result from pushing themselves too hard toward greatness?

It is great that society wants our generation to be a successful one. We need to keep pushing ourselves beyond what we thought possible. But, have we gone too far? In society's quest to produce successful people, it has worked its people too hard.

Now that I am in college, I feel this pressure even more than before. I "need" to take lessons on both of my instruments. I "need" to practice two hours each day. I "need" to be in band and orchestra. Not to mention the constant push by my parents to try to get to the top of the clarinet section.

Would it be so terrible if I practiced just an hour less each day, or if I was only in one ensemble?  Would it be so terrible if young athletes and musicians worked hard, but just not too hard? Society would be even more successful if it didn't push its citizens beyond their natural limits.

I envision my peers being successful without health and stress problems. I see my generation achieving great things without falling victim to the unreasonable demands and pressures of society. I am not an unrealistic dreamer. My generation can be great without working "too hard."