Hi fandomeers, and happy Christmas! I hope you've all had a great day!!!
Even with all the ish going on, the past month I've still been able to feel the Christmas hype. Christmas is great: as a musician, me and my choir are singing all over town all the time, and there's a lot of other musical things going on; it's so great. My friends are home from college, and my family all comes together and it's awesome. These all get me super hyped about Christmas.
But guys, I gotta tell you about something that totally upped my Christmas hype.
One Sunday morning I was watching this video about Christmas, and it totally changed my life. You have to watch it, Why We Need a Savior.
I had always understood that Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world, and that because of Him, we were all able to live again. But I didn't think about the depth of it. Literally nothing would be able to heal. Like, for example, I start to write something here for all of you, and then I don't like it, I wouldn't be able to go back and revise what I wrote. It would just be stuck there in imperfectness. And us, as imperfect beings that make a lot of awful mistakes, would be destined to live forever in sorrow. Every time we made a mistake, that's it.
Because I have learned from my mistakes and have been able to grow, this is very important for me. Because of Jesus Christ, I am able to be forgiven.
I have a friend who is very dear to me that I used to hate. Because of Jesus Christ, the burden of anger has been taken from me. I am able to forgive.
Because of Jesus Christ, I can make my own choices. I can be a writer, friend, sister, daughter, section leader, musician, and so much more; God made a plan for us to come to the world and live and make choices and mistakes and learn so we could live with Him again, and to pay for all our sins and to feel all our pain, He sent His Son so that everything I want to do is now possible.
So all that before-mentioned Christmas hype, it still exists, and I still believe in it, but it's a lot deeper than that. When I'm caroling at the mall, it's more than just singing; I see people's faces light up and make their day way brighter, helping make someone feel love, something Christ would want me to do. Spending time with my family, something Christ would want me to do. My choir teacher said at our winter concert, he always sees bad things happening in the world, but he sees good in the world every time he looks at us. And that's what Christmas is about too, being the light in a dark world.
Basically, all those things, and the fact that everything is just happy all the time, that's what Christmas is. They call it the Christmas spirit. The spirit of happiness. Just remember that this time of the year really is that magical, and it really is that happy, and that special, and the Christmas spirit is very real, because it is the spirit of Christ, His spirit of love and joy in the world.
I love you all very much, and here is one more awesome Christmas video because I'm obsessed with this one too.
Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
Friday, December 25, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
To Ms. Groberg
Hey fandomeers, I got something very important to share with you. Many of you know I'm in choir at my school. We recently got a student teacher; her name is Ms. Groberg. Tomorrow is Ms. Groberg's last day with us. She is seriously the coolest, and before she left I intended to write a note for her, but then I realized a lot of the things I needed to tell her I also needed to tell you guys. So I'mma print a copy of this post for her and give it to her; this post is for her.
Ms. Groberg, I am so glad you came to Basic for your student teaching! You have become a really good friend of mine; you are so fun, we both love Phantom of the Opera, and we have matching boots. I'm genuinely super heartbroken that you are leaving. For some reason I've gotten it into my head that you're going to be staying here forever. You just seem like so much a part of the choir family.
I overheard Mr. Duff (our choir director for those of you who don't know) talking to you in your earlier days with us. He told you that the feeling you get when a student finally understands a concept is indescribable. It's indescirbable for me too; when I get a concept I am so excited. I've also seen some of the girls I am section leader for finally understand something, and seeing their happiness at grasping something is so amazing. I know that is the kind of teacher you'll be. I've seen you take joy in out triumphs. You are going to be a great teacher.
I hope the biggest lesson you learned from us is to bring your students together. There's no questioning the family connection in our choir program. Ms. Groberg, when you teach at your own school, I just want you to know that building your program to be like a family can make a big difference for the music. There is nothing better than singing with the people you love. But not only that. I hope you know it makes a big difference for the kids too. Being in Mr. Duff's choir program has changed my life.
When I was in sixth grade I made the definite decision to be a writer. Looking back on it, my understanding of writing was much less. I only knew that I wanted writing to be the rest of my life, I wanted to make a career of it, and I was writing all the time. I auditioned for the Basic High School Chamber Singers at the end of my eighth grade year, to go into it my freahman year. I was one of three freshmen who made it, and the only girl freshman. I loved choir; I had done it all three years in junior high. But being in this choir, this changed my life. Why? It taught me about the two things that make writing, make stories, the center of every story ever written: love and people. Love and people are all writing is about. Everything that happens in a story, is based on a person's emotion. And almost all emotion is based on love. This is not a concept I understood. But Mr. Duff, Mr. Duff teaches people. Mr. Duff always says that the most important thing is making sure the people in our lives know how we feel about them. He says we need to make each other feel loved. That blew me away when I finally understood it. I saw everyone take care of each other. I got amazing friends, that without our choir program I would not have been able to have. I became friends with Mr. Duff and his classroom is now a home to me. I learned a lot of things from this program. One, how to become a better singer; my musicianship has improved in unbelievable ways. Two, I have learned how to be a true friend and how to love people; I am way happier because of this. I learned how to write; I've watched my writing quality, my character quality, my story quality, all vastly improve. This program has been life-changing.
Sadly, I realized not every teacher is like this. Mr. Duff is an amazing teacher who uses music to teach me about life. Some students do not get the same fantastic choir experience I am getting because they are not being taught properly. Ms. Groberg, I've seen you teach. I know you will teach amazing things. I've seen you make connections with us. So I know you will take this first piece of advice: become friends with your students. Kids love feeling connected to their teacher. You are great at this already! The only other piece of advice I can give you is to try to make your students friends with each other. Obviously not everyone is going to like each other. But do your best at teaching the kids that the people they sing with can become their family. Teach them that love is the best thing to put into their music. Make your choir a family. To be honest, I think that it is the willingness to accept people into our choir family that made me so get so close to you in such a short amount of time. You became part of our family. It makes me sad to think that you won't be a part of it anymore.
Ms. Groberg, that is the kind of teacher you will be, a teacher that teaches more than just how to sing well, a teacher that teaches how to be a great person and how to completely change your sound. You have taught me new things in your time with us and I'm so thankful for your knowledge, your personality, your style of education. I have watched you grow so much learning to become a better teacher. You will get a job! Don't doubt it for a second, because anyone would be crazy not to hire you. It breaks my heart to see you go. I can't wait for you to come back and sub for us, and to see you with your own choir in the near future. Don't get discouraged if you can't figure something out right away; it will take time to build your choir. Mr. Duff learns more every year, you will learn as you teach too. I hope that your teaching career is as beautiful and awesome as you are. We will never, ever, ever forget you. I hope I see you around and we stay friends, because you have become a very good friend of mine. I love you!!!
--Lizzo
Ms. Groberg, I am so glad you came to Basic for your student teaching! You have become a really good friend of mine; you are so fun, we both love Phantom of the Opera, and we have matching boots. I'm genuinely super heartbroken that you are leaving. For some reason I've gotten it into my head that you're going to be staying here forever. You just seem like so much a part of the choir family.
I overheard Mr. Duff (our choir director for those of you who don't know) talking to you in your earlier days with us. He told you that the feeling you get when a student finally understands a concept is indescribable. It's indescirbable for me too; when I get a concept I am so excited. I've also seen some of the girls I am section leader for finally understand something, and seeing their happiness at grasping something is so amazing. I know that is the kind of teacher you'll be. I've seen you take joy in out triumphs. You are going to be a great teacher.
I hope the biggest lesson you learned from us is to bring your students together. There's no questioning the family connection in our choir program. Ms. Groberg, when you teach at your own school, I just want you to know that building your program to be like a family can make a big difference for the music. There is nothing better than singing with the people you love. But not only that. I hope you know it makes a big difference for the kids too. Being in Mr. Duff's choir program has changed my life.
When I was in sixth grade I made the definite decision to be a writer. Looking back on it, my understanding of writing was much less. I only knew that I wanted writing to be the rest of my life, I wanted to make a career of it, and I was writing all the time. I auditioned for the Basic High School Chamber Singers at the end of my eighth grade year, to go into it my freahman year. I was one of three freshmen who made it, and the only girl freshman. I loved choir; I had done it all three years in junior high. But being in this choir, this changed my life. Why? It taught me about the two things that make writing, make stories, the center of every story ever written: love and people. Love and people are all writing is about. Everything that happens in a story, is based on a person's emotion. And almost all emotion is based on love. This is not a concept I understood. But Mr. Duff, Mr. Duff teaches people. Mr. Duff always says that the most important thing is making sure the people in our lives know how we feel about them. He says we need to make each other feel loved. That blew me away when I finally understood it. I saw everyone take care of each other. I got amazing friends, that without our choir program I would not have been able to have. I became friends with Mr. Duff and his classroom is now a home to me. I learned a lot of things from this program. One, how to become a better singer; my musicianship has improved in unbelievable ways. Two, I have learned how to be a true friend and how to love people; I am way happier because of this. I learned how to write; I've watched my writing quality, my character quality, my story quality, all vastly improve. This program has been life-changing.
Sadly, I realized not every teacher is like this. Mr. Duff is an amazing teacher who uses music to teach me about life. Some students do not get the same fantastic choir experience I am getting because they are not being taught properly. Ms. Groberg, I've seen you teach. I know you will teach amazing things. I've seen you make connections with us. So I know you will take this first piece of advice: become friends with your students. Kids love feeling connected to their teacher. You are great at this already! The only other piece of advice I can give you is to try to make your students friends with each other. Obviously not everyone is going to like each other. But do your best at teaching the kids that the people they sing with can become their family. Teach them that love is the best thing to put into their music. Make your choir a family. To be honest, I think that it is the willingness to accept people into our choir family that made me so get so close to you in such a short amount of time. You became part of our family. It makes me sad to think that you won't be a part of it anymore.
Ms. Groberg, that is the kind of teacher you will be, a teacher that teaches more than just how to sing well, a teacher that teaches how to be a great person and how to completely change your sound. You have taught me new things in your time with us and I'm so thankful for your knowledge, your personality, your style of education. I have watched you grow so much learning to become a better teacher. You will get a job! Don't doubt it for a second, because anyone would be crazy not to hire you. It breaks my heart to see you go. I can't wait for you to come back and sub for us, and to see you with your own choir in the near future. Don't get discouraged if you can't figure something out right away; it will take time to build your choir. Mr. Duff learns more every year, you will learn as you teach too. I hope that your teaching career is as beautiful and awesome as you are. We will never, ever, ever forget you. I hope I see you around and we stay friends, because you have become a very good friend of mine. I love you!!!
--Lizzo
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