The “C” in Choir
Morgan Jones’s self-expression journey through show choir performances.
For senior Morgan Jones, the “C” in choir stands for confidence. Self-expression and the feeling of comfort in one’s own self were foreign and a struggle for Jones. She felt that she could not fit in anywhere or with anyone, she felt distant from all her peers. However, starting the show choir helped her find her confidence and the place she belonged and flourished in.
“[Choir] taught me it is okay to mess up,” said Jones. “When I first joined the show choir I wasn’t confident at all, however, it taught me how to be confident in myself.”
At the beginning of Jones’s show choir journey, she felt awkward and shaky when she was performing. In her head, she believed she looked weird making faces and smiling. She thought she looked out of place amongst her fellow show choir members. Then her choir director told her to practice her facial expressions and singing in front of the mirror.
“That was when I realized that everyone is smiling and making expressions” said Jones. “My big personality is really helpful on stage, I make really good big facial expressions that people compliment on.”
The individualism and expressivity of Jones significantly improved with the help of the performances she put on onstage and in front of the mirror. In addition to her enhanced expressiveness and confidence, her social skills and life also improved.
“In middle school, I was very in my shell and insecure and I was never really a part of anything or know what it meant to make friends,” said Jones. “So when I was thrown into the show choir it kind of opened my eyes and really broke my shell and gave me confidence.”