When I think of someone who has made a significant difference in my life the first person that come to mind is my piano teacher of almost 7 years (almost half my life). Her name is Bettine Wallin, she teaches me more then just piano, she teaches me life lessons. Not only is she a motivating teacher but a strong woman who is currently fighting breast cancer. She is like my resident grandmother, she has been there through the biggest years of change in my life, supporting me and helping me grow.
Many things she teaches me though the piano are metaphors for life. Once after I completed a very easy piece, Bettine told me that I had captured through my finger the feeling and essence of the piece. She confessed, telling me how she never use open up her books from lower levels, because she saw herself as too advanced for them. Yet one day, wanting an easy piece to play she opened an old book and found that each simple yet beautiful piece was like a “little gem”. Easy yet sweet and enchanting. I see that lesson relating to life. Our lives having its sweet and simple moments that can be miss or that we move to fast and miss. They are beautiful gems, moments that need to be captured. She never could stress that point enough and as I get older I begin to see more and more the truth to what she says.
In her house the words “I can’t” better not escape your lips. She taught me from a young age to never say those words. “ Zoe, never say you cant do something, maybe you haven’t been successful in the past but don’t let that cast a shadow on your future”. Everything about her gives the air that she never let anything stop her from reaching her goal. Even with breast cancer her strength in spirit is unparalleled. Just by seeing how she reacts so vivaciously, even to hardships, changes me. I want to have that strength and love of life, I want to have a life story and I want to go for things as hard as they might seem.
Having her as my teacher and mentor has made me who I am today. With out her who knows if I would have the confidence to succeed. Or the eyes I have that see the little flower in the grass or the delicate trill on the sheet of music.
