Pulling Talent Out of a Hat

The date is October of 2010. I pace frantically backstage, trying  desperately to calm myself by listening to the upbeat music that blasted throughout the school’s auditorium. The ear splitting pop song vibrated the room as two 3rd grade girls hopped and twirled around the stage in their sequined mini skirts and neon bows, perfecting the hip hop dance that their mothers had no doubt choreographed for months. I watched from the side, aware of my pacing heart and unbearably sweaty hands. I looked down at my black converse and jeans and felt the oversized top hat on my head, immediately regretting every decision I had made in the short 11 years of my life. I hear the music fade to an end, there was no time for nerves or regrets. I hear the rumble of the curtains closing, and I made my way to the stage, gripping the magic wand I had bought  from the dollar store as tight as I could. It was showtime.

Talent shows have been a tradition in schools for years and years back. On January 19th this year I attended Farmingdale High School’s annual “Coffee House,” a show that takes place in the school’s common area where students exhibit their many talents.  From Adriana Eugenio’s performance of “Before He Cheats” to Adam Ruben’s amazing rendition of “Too Good at Goodbyes,” along with many other singers and musical instruments that were beautifully performed, all of the students put on a terrific show. “It was a lot of fun and an overall fun experience,” says Adam Ruben, a sophomore who performed for his first year at the Coffee House. Unlike the shows put on in elementary school– organized by class moms, over-the-top glittery outfits (for some), and the weeks leading up to your 2 minutes and 30 seconds of fame filled with excited nerves, hoping your performance was better than the others)– the high school’s “Coffee House” was a much more calming environment. Organized by the students themselves, the show was well-put together and an overall enjoyable experience for everyone. “It was a great time to socialize and get together to listen to and see some very talented performers,” says Emily O’flynn, a Junior at Farmingdale who attended the show.

The amount of talent at FHS is truly incredible, and while I’m sure my outstanding elementary school card tricks would have fit in flawlessly with the other performers, I decided to take a step back from my magic career for this one and let some other performers shine.