This evening was something memorable. I performed pieces with a strings ensemble group in a free concert at an outdoor amphitheater behind a community center. We're a non-profit music group which everybody is an amateur musician playing violin, viola, cello or bass as a hobby. We had about 50 people in the audience. Playing on stage is easier with 20+ people in the group. Unlike a solo recital we're less concerned about missing notes knowing that there are others playing the same part. A piano on stage is different from the one at home but the violin or viola we carry around is very familiar.
At 6 my parents discovered that nobody in the family had the talent for music. Someone tried guitar but quit after 4 lessons. Mom got me & my sister a piano teacher anyway. Within a month she thought that we weren't getting anywhere and stopped paying for lessons. I didn't get back into playing until a few decades later.
Charlie Wu has a good attitude to life and seems very optimistic despite difficulties along the way. At a young age I behaved more or less like the people of my age. I didn't do anything spectacular or try things that are challenging. I didn't have the maturity to make my own decisions or the self-awareness what I want to do in life. Like most young people I was exploring my options but unsure of any 1 thing I was good at that I can do for the rest of my life.