Giving Power to Teenager on Track

Makuena, my daughter, and I sat in the front room heads bowed.

The teacher said she could not play at the Federation because it would ruin her reputation if my daughter played. "She missed one lesson. She is not proficient enough. It will ruin my reputation and this is what I do for a living. I take music seriously."

This morning, my daughter and I sat in the front room quietly. There was stiff silence which I broke on occasion by letting her know that the teacher was unfair.
"You don't drive. You are not to blame for not being at the lesson. I should be blamed for it. I should be punished for it. Not you."

She still sat there quietly as if she was not even there.

I looked at her. Her head was still bowed and she kept rubbing her fingers.

"I don't agree with her teaching philosophy. The students play for the students' enjoyment and fulfillment. Students come first. In Irina Violin Studio the teacher's enjoyment comes first? Something is wrong with this picture. I pay so that she can teach you and do her best to bring the best qualities forth. I am sorry that she thinks you will ruin her reputation if you play. I am sorry. I don't know how to make this better for you but I will do the best I can."

I was hoping that Makuena would cut in and say something, just anything. It worried me that she kept rubbing her fingers, and harder each time I glanced at them. I wondered what was in her thoughts. We stood there in rigid silence.

Finally she lifted her feet up onto the couch and curled up like an unborn child.

"Don't worry mother. I am going to play. I will play for me. I am ready. I have memorized the entire first movement of the Concerto in A Minor. I am ready. I will be at Gardiner Hall. Room 410 at 9:30am on Saturday. I have one rough spot that I will fix in a few minutes. I am ready. I am going to play. I will play." She said pointing a finger to her chest.

I felt tears rushing to my eyes but held them back. 'Makuena turned around the hall to find her music stand. She put resin on the strings and went over the last phrase of the concerto. As she was playing, the phone rang. It was Vera. The pianist. She said she could no longer accompany Makuena because the teacher did not approve. "Makuena can't play because Irina does not approve. You know she is my colleague and I can't go against her" The conversation was long and I could not wait to get off the phone and back to my daughter who was determined to continue in the right direction and stand for the things she knows to be right.

"Who was it, Mother?" She asked
"Vera."

"What did she say/"

She said she can't come.

Oh! I am going. It does not matter whether she does or not. I am going. I am playing. I am ready. I want to play.

At the Federation a few days later, Makuena got up and announced her piece.
"Where is the accompanist?" The judges asked.
"I don't know. She should be here." Makuena Said.

Makuena waves a "SUPERIOR" rating for her performance despite the fear her teacher had that Makuena would ruin the teacher's reputation.

It is when we step in to enforce positives teenage strides that we help them receive the recognition and respect they deserve. Mokena's story will be an encouragement to teenagers who are put down by adults who feel they must control the universe. It is a lesson to parents like me who must learn that teenagers under good supervision are good. Teachers

Learn more about this author, Setloholo sa Robose Sethunya.
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