A Newfound Confidence
When Dani. H was a sophomore at Morehead High School, she reached a crossroads. It was the day students auditioned for Morehead Singers, the top vocal ensemble at MHS. As students sang loudly beside the piano at the front of the room, Dani was anxious. Her hands shook slightly as she contemplated her next move; her nerves made her lightheaded.
Soon, the director called for anyone who would like to audition. Dani sank into her chair, her talent and ambition succumbing to her nerves. Suddenly, a friend grabbed Dani’s arm and pulled her to the piano. What followed completely altered her high school experience and disposition in life.
Dani grew up in a family that prioritized service. Because nearly every adult in her family served in the military or law enforcement, she felt more equipped to understand the real world from a younger age. Throughout most of her years in school, she describes her personality “intimidating and serious.” This began to soften when Dani became a student at Morehead High School.
While at Morehead, Dani was a choir member, Tri-M President, a National Honor Society member, and an employee at the Pork Shop. Her academic and extracurricular success is soon to pay off, as she plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill to Major in Psychology.
Back to Dani’s audition: she knocked it out of the park. Dani was not only invited to join Morehead Singers, she also shined in her role, eventually earning the title of section leader. Her experience in chorus provided her with the confidence to sing and speak loudly in front of others. It also constructed within Dani a sense of pride and accomplishment that buoyed other aspects of her life by strengthening relationships with friends and instilling a more lighthearted, gregarious nature. When asked if she could ever imagine herself where she is today, Dani smiles: “never in a million years.”