I looked through the window of the charming little violin shop, and my heart began to race.

I’d been out to dinner that evening. Since it wasn’t dark yet after the meal, I decided to walk home from the restaurant. I had traveled that way before, yet I had never noticed that old little shop. But that night I felt drawn to the violin shop the moment I came across it.

I wiped the dirt from the window to get a better look inside. Several violins hung from the dark walls, quietly waiting to be chosen. As my eyes rested on them, I felt as though I were looking through a window into my own past.

My childhood was all about the pursuits I had attempted, most of which had been chosen by Mom. She was like, “Join the swim team, Tara. Your sister is a good swimmer; surely you will be, too.” What she refused to acknowledge, however, was that I was visibly afraid of water.

Every Saturday I begged Mom not to make me go to the swim meet, but had little chance of success. That said, with a bang of the starting gun, I would dive into the cold water with all my strength and swim to the other side of the pool as fast as I could, only to find that the other swimmers slid past me. I would have given it up if I had not heard my father’s encouraging shouts to cheer me on. When at last my hand would grab the edge of the pool, he would always be there with a warm, dry towel, telling me how proud he was of my desperate efforts.

Then came a turning point in my life the day our school orchestra( 管弦乐队) visited my class, and gave a demonstration. The drums annoyed me. The flutes(笛子) bored me. But the violin…ah, the violin. It made the sweetest sound I’d ever heard! My heart was dancing along with its flowing tune. For the first time in my life, I went so wild with joy.

Tightly holding the permission slip from the orchestra director, I ran all the way home after school, and shakily handed it to my parents with a fear that they might dismiss my desire. They didn’t. Mom was thrilled to see me finally excited about something, and Dad winked(眨眼示意) at me while eagerly signing the slip.

I began practicing the violin with great passion, and rose quickly in ability. Before long I had won the first seat in the community orchestra.