The greatest lesson I’ve learned from the past four years and, especially, the past few months is that life goes on. According to a Jewish folktale, King Solomon directed a trusted advisor to bring him a magic ring that makes sad men happy and happy men sad. The advisor returned with a simple gold band with the inscription,
“This, too, shall pass.”
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I joined Angels on Call a cappella my first of semester of college. I’ve made some of my best friends in the group; they’ve been witness to my growth as a singer, student, and person. As I begin the next uncharted epoch of my life, I’ve recently begun reflecting not only on what Angels means to me but how Angels has catalyzed much of my growth. The resulting project—this site—is the culmination of my efforts. On this site you’ll find a few distinct pieces.
First is a commemorative video I made that explores the question, “What does Angels mean to its members?” I’ve been in many singing groups in my life, however I’m closer to Angels than any other group. It certainly helps that the group is small, however I’ve felt out of place in other small groups. The video is meant not to analyze and illuminate how and why this particular group of people meshes (a path my sociological mind immediately and originally entertained) but to simply capture the joy and meaning I’ve gleaned as a member. It reaches both back and forward; it’s a time capsule of members’ thoughts and feelings, one to which other members and I can return in the future. However, it is more than just a finished product. The act of reflecting provided fodder for the video, however the simple service of reflection was the ultimate goal. Hopefully that makes moving on a little easier for all involved.
The second piece is a song I arranged, taught, and performed at my (final) semester concert, a piece from The Lion King called “They Live in You.” While my arrangement is technically a hybrid between “He Lives in You” and its reprise, “They Live in You,” I chose the title of the reprise not only for semantic salience but for the song’s meaning. This moment in the musical is the turning point where the protagonist, Simba, accepts (false) responsibility for the murder of his father. Remembrance of his father and ancestors’ legacy fills Simba with renewed purpose and prompts return to his home to reclaim his title as king, a sentiment which parallels the legacy of Angels’ graduating seniors and younger members’ assumption of leadership. For a more detailed description of the musical and its relation to the group, please see the video’s accompanying explanation.
Finally, I wrote a personal reflective essay delineating how I’ve failed, succeeded, and grown through being a member of Angels. While much of my growth in college has occurred outside of Angels, they have always been there to help me through my challenges and celebrate my victories. The evolution of my interactions with and investment in the group reflects my personal maturation, making it a fitting lens through which to view my college career. I see this essay as the capstone of the Capstone, my Last Lecture imparting the lessons I’ve learned as a member of Angels. While the video captures others’ reflections of Angels, this essay captures mine. With the video as the context and my reflection as the interpretation, I hope to paint a vivid picture of Angels and myself that will withstand the ephemerality of time.
* * * * *
Childhood passed. College passed. Angels, now, has passed.
Pleasure, heartbreak, solace, despair, life. They all pass. Right now, I’m unmistakably, undeniably, unequivocally scared because, for those of you who don’t know, graduating is fucking scary. I’m scared to leave college, to uproot routine, to find new friends, to face unknown challenges, to constitute new identity. If anyone says otherwise, I’m calling their bluff. Graduating is entering the unknown and leaving Angels is closing this chapter of my life.
However, this, too, shall pass.
I just wish there was a bit less bitter in the bittersweet.