Bumps And Bruises - Posted on 2012-05-13 by John Polizzi

All too often it seems like life can be an uphill battle. The fight never subsides, and the struggle never gets any easier. Sure, it's easy to just give up and remain complacent with where you are and what you've achieved thus far when the going gets tough, but, it's the tough going that really helps to determine who you are. Remember, you can't get knocked around if you're not still in the fight. When life gets tough, you get tougher; when all hope seems lost, or you've lost your way, you make your own way and carve out your own path. It's your life. Go after it, whatever it may be.

It may seem like this post has little to nothing to do with my apprenticeship, but in truth, it defines my experience in the program. Life has been hard for several months for a plethorah of reasons, all of which threaten to derail me, and all of which will fail in attempting to do so. If nothing else, my mentor has instilled in me a "never be defeated" attitude. The constant encouragement and refinement of my growing skills makes me believe that I really am making progress, and that I really am on the right track. I'm not naturally a confident person, but here, in this environment, I feel at ease. I feel calm. I feel like I define my own success.

This experience, past, present, and future, has awakened a drive far beyond what I even thought possible to acheive exactly what I want. I want to work in a studio. I want to grow my skill and help others, even if only in the smallest possible way. I realize I have a long way to go, and as such I will remain humble, but determined nonetheless. Until acheived, I'm set on building my skill set as a musician and engineer, learning as much as I can, and striving for success.

All the best, and remember: never be defeated.