Road to the Inauguration: Wide Awake

Rushawn Walters is our music columnist and a member of the Festival Choir.

Well, it’s almost 2:30 in the morning, and I am wide awake. My eyes are burning, but my body won’t listen.

After a long day of dodging hail, classes and a community wide concert, you’d think sleep would be the best thing to do.

Nope, not for me.

Right now I’m just laying in bed listening to music and, at times, gazing at my luggage hoping that I have everything.

The bus leaves at 8:15 a.m., but we’ve been told if we’re not there by 7:30, there’s a huge possibility we’ll get left behind.

At this moment, I’m beginning to think excitement is what’s keeping me up.

When the senator of Tennessee came to Lee to announce that we were singing at the inauguration, I was one of the few students in the Conn Center that didn’t go crazy.

This is because I had already made up in my mind that there was no way Lee University would have me sing.

So often people would say to me,

You really can’t sing,

or

 You always switch the keys.

After those comments, I just never thought myself to be good enough.

When I finally saw my name on the list, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I initially thought it was a joke. But my excitement quickly dwindled down when I found out that 20 students would be cut and be deemed ‘alternates.’

Such a term is to be dreaded in the music world because you basically have to put in just as much work as a main part, but you’re not guaranteed anything.

But as I lay here in my bed at 2:29 a.m, I am greatly proud to say that,

I will be going to the Inauguration!!!