Don't Rain on my Parade

Too often on this campus, people have been telling me what I can and cannot do. More often, it's been what I can't. I can't sing in this choir, can't join this club, can't hang out with these people, can't join this church, can't be in this play. Frankly, I'm fucken sick of it all! When I didn't get into my school's most recent production, which just happened to be my all-time favorite show, I was greatly discouraged and didn't know whether or not to even continue auditioning at this theater, since nothing I've done has seemed to please anyone. I was sitting alone in my room feeling sorry for myself, deciding not to go to the student directed play auditions, and watching random youtube videos. Somehow, I came across a video of Barbra Streisand singing, Don't Rain On My Parade. I know its cheesy to be inspired by a Streisand ballad, but the main message of the song is; do what you want to do, not what people tell you, and if you fail at least fail on your own terms. At that moment, I shut off my computer and marched over to the auditions, saying to myself over and over again, "Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!" I thoroughly enjoyed the auditions, and even though I didn't get cast, I finally feel that I made a good impression on someone. I was successful in those regards and now I don't feel like a complete failure. It hurts sometimes, but all any of us can do is keep going and tell the world to, "fuck off, this is my time to shine!