A close friend of mine once told me that all we are is just a little plot on a timeline, and that there was no purpose in what we did or what we are doing. "Because in the end," he said, "We will all be forgotten." At that time, I didn't know how to reply to that statement, but after thinking a lot about it, I believe that every soul in this world has a purpose for something; you just have to find what purpose is yours.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th century poet, essayist, and philosopher said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Emerson was explaining that everyone has a purpose just that you need to make it develop you into realizing you lived for a reason. Not to make a plot on a timeline, but to make a difference in your own life, to make yourself know that your life was worth living, and knowing you inspired those around you.
Growing up, my inspiration was always music. I used to look forward to coming home from daycare to watch my father play his guitar to me on his bed. I would love the way the strings on the guitar made a vibrating noise and would tickle your hands as you laid your fingers down on the frets. I remember listening to bands like Queen, the Beatles, the Eagles, Aerosmith, great bands with amazing and influential musicians. Every Wednesday, my sister Ellen had clarinet lessons at McCourts music, a music store just a few miles away from my house. While Ellen was in lessons with her teacher, I would run off to the guitar section and strum the prettiest guitar I would find that day. I remember my parents would find me a couple minutes later and would say, “Abbey, keep your hands off of those guitars, they’re expensive!” I would stop for that day, but I’d do it again each week after, and hear my parents yell at me every time. I wouldn't care though, I felt a connection with those guitars at the store. I felt like I had to strum it or else I’d get sad.
When I was five years old, my father finally let me play his Martin guitar for the very first time. I took a chair out to the end of my driveway, along with the guitar and guitar case, and I’d start strumming the guitar, singing along to my favorite song at that time “Hey There Delilah” pretending it sounded good, even though I knew it wasn't, and I’m sure my neighbors thought it sounded absolutely terrible. I kept playing though, and I kept singing. I somehow knew that I was going to keep trying and trying as I got older. I somehow knew I’d turn into something good eventually. On my sixth birthday, I received my very first guitar. It was an Acoustic Ashland guitar. Of course, as six year olds usually are with all of their new toys, I had to name it. It’s name was Delilah, after my favorite song. It was so beautiful, so perfect, and it was all mine. A couple of days after my birthday, I had my first guitar lesson with Andrew Reid, an amazing guitar teacher at Mccourts. Andrew was so patient with me, since I knew absolutely nothing about guitar. He stayed with me through it all and never gave up on me. 10 years have past, and he’s been there the whole time, cheering me on and influencing me to do better. He’s not even really a teacher to me anymore, he’s a great friend that I look forward to seeing every week. My Dad quit playing however, realizing he enjoyed watching his baby girl fall in love with music, more than learning how to play for himself.
I've had three more guitars since then, and Delilah got moved to the back of my closet. Two years ago, I had a recital to perform in with Andrew, and my new acoustic guitar. This recital was the first time I ever played in front of a crowd. I never played anywhere outside of my room and lessons before the recital.  That day, I realized music was my purpose all along. All my life I have been in love with music. The vibration of the strings on my fingers gave me a purpose
to become someone I've always wanted to be. That recital opened up so many opportunities for me. For example, I pushed myself into performing in front of my church with my guitar, and I’m not scared to play in front of my friends, because I knew I had something to be proud of, and I knew that if I took up so much time in my life practicing with Delilah, I must of had a purpose to play, and expose the real me to other people.
Exposing the real me wasn't very easy. There were many people that told me I should quit because I sucked, but I would always tell them that you have to start somewhere. You can’t start out perfect at everything, you just have to try harder until you get better. Even though not many friends of mine supported me, I knew I had to keep going until I got it right. One of my favorite quotes is by Steve Maraboli: “It doesn't matter what you did or where you were.. It matters where you are and what you’re doing. Get out there! Sing the song in your heart and NEVER let anyone shut you up!”
In conclusion, I believe that everyone was born with a purpose. My purpose is to influence others with music. I want to make people fall in love with music the same way I fell in love with Delilah. I want everyone to feel the vibration on their fingertips when they put theirs on the strings. I want to influence people to find their purpose. I want to show people that you can’t just give up on your purpose even when people tell you that you suck at it, because if you hang out with the chickens, you’re going to cluck; but if you hang out with the eagles, you’re going to fly.