“There are three things you can do to make yourself more intelligent: Read, learn Music, and learn a Foreign Language.”

-My dad, and I have no idea where he heard it. If anyone knows please tell me.

When I was a baby my dad would read me to sleep. He was dead tired from working graveyard shifts at the Post Office and he would fall asleep on my bed next to me in the middle of the story. Contrary to the point of this ritual, I’d be wide awake wanting to know how it ended, so, naturally, I started taking the book from him and reading it myself. I would read him to sleep when I was four years old. He still gets a kick out of telling this story. To this day I cant keep my nose out of a book, blog, window sign, etc. etc.

In first grade I started dance lessons, unknowingly beginning to build an ability to interpret music. In fourth grade I started violin lessons in my grade school’s extracurricular program. Dad was happy. He hadn’t been allowed to play an instrument all through his school years due to financial constraints and he was overjoyed to support me where he wasn’t. I loved these activities deeply and they became my world outside of books.

In my Sophomore year of high school I found out about a special Language study program that existed only in my school district called Center for International Studies. It provided classes for Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian and Geo Politics. The CIA visited us every year to handshake. I had developed an interest in Japanese language and culture along with my friends. We wanted to understand our anime and manga better so we all signed up. This literally lead to my world breaking open several times over and I cannot imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t been encouraged to participate. 

I acknowledge the plethora of privileges I have had to have been able to do these things. I also cant forget that my parents sacrificed a LOT to provide them to me. We were not wealthy; they made a modest living and poured everything they had into my activities. But that sacrifice was important to my parents.

I knew this so when I told my parents hesitantly that I didn’t want to dance or play violin anymore my dad told me this quote and followed it with the question: “Do you know why?” I said no, why? And his answer blew my mind. 

Because Foreign language, Music and Reading are all ways to understand and process what other people are saying.

It was so important to my dad that I have the ability to understand and think critically about other peoples thoughts that they strained their livelihoods for it. It was never about their expectations for me. It was always about opportunity and empowerment. It is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given, right after the name Samantha. (I’ll explain why in a future post!)

I really want to find a way to give this gift to others. Listening is my greatest superpower and I want to use it to make the world a better place.

If you have the ability to, please encourage others to communicate. Please never force anyone to do anything. Everyone learns at their own pace. Let people have the opportunity to grow and do your best in the meantime to keep yourself safe and happy. If you are not safe and happy and are unable to get yourself there, I yearn for your comfort. When you can, please try to reach out to someone who can make your safety happen. 

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P.S. To school boards and decision makers and stuff-

On a related note, pls support and fund the arts programs in schools gosh dang it. They are like crazy important. I promise. KThxBye.