Mostparentsbelievethatparticipationinextracurricularactivitiesaffectsachildinalotofgoodways.Minewerenoexception.Afterschool,Iwasalwaysbeingdrivenfrompianotobasketballtoswimmingandsoon.Atthetime,IthoughtIwastheworld'sbusiestkid.Butafteralltheseyears,IcaneasilyseethatIhavegainedsomereallyimportantbenefitsfromthoseactivities.Playingthepianoisprobablytheone.

　　However,itwouldbeabiglieformetosaythatmyappreciationforplayingthepianocameimmediately.FromthetimeIwastenyearsolduntilIwastwelveorthirteen,IabsolutelydetestedSundayafternoons.Ofcoursebythen,itwasnotcalledSundayformebutthetorturous"pianoday."Ihadtopracticeallthemorningbeforethelessonintheafternoon,andbecametotallyexhaustedintheevening.Whenitwasfinallyover,Ihadgreatrelief,asifanincredibleamountofweighthadbeenpulledfrommyshoulders.

　　Inthosedays,Inevergottoseetheimportanceofhavingthoselessons,practicingforhours,andevenplayingthosetunes.AsmuchasItried,Icouldneverfindawaytoenjoyit;itwasnomorethansomenever-endinghorriblehomeworkforme.Buttoday,Ithankmyteacherforforcingmetoappreciatetheartofmusic.Now,Icaneasilylistplayingthepianoasoneofthemostrefreshingaspectsofmylife.WheneverIfeeldown,Ialwayshavethechancetobeupincloudsafteracoupleofminutes.Swayingbackandforth,Icansurrendermyselftothesoothingtunesandgetlostintheharmony.IbelieveveryfewpeoplehavethatkindofluxuryandI'mabsolutelygratefulforthat.

　　AlthoughIneverrecognizedbythen,becauseofthoselessonsIbecamemoredisciplinedasahumanbeing.AsIdevelopedself-control,Igainedconfidence.Ilearnedhowtomanagemytimemoreeffectively.Eventhoughitwasmoreinthesubconsciouslevelatthetime,Ialsogrewspirituallybyrecognizingthepowerofmusic.Yes,Ihatedthelessonsandpracticing,butwhatIhatewasnotthemusicitself.Itwastheobligationtodothosethings.Allofthesehelpedmealotthroughoutmylaterlife.

　　IwishIwouldhavethechancetomeetmypianoteachertodayandthankherforallthelessonsthatIoncehated.

　　Eventhough,Ithoughtitwascompletelyuselessbythen,nowIcanseethepositiveeffectsofplayingthepianoinmysocialandemotionallife.AndIcanunderstandwhymyparentsweresocompelledaboutmetakingthoselessons.I'mgladtheywere,becausethatmademeabettermantoday.