New Beginnings

As I write this, it has been over a year since I officially graduated with my Master’s in Vocal Performance. It still doesn’t feel real. It’s also difficult to believe that I actually possess any more knowledge or ability than I did before, only now I have a new piece of paper telling me I, in fact, do. I think most people, at least those of us who don’t have an immediate clear path right out of a new degree, feel lost once the high of graduation is over. I feel that now, to be honest.
The feeling fluctuates as much as Alabama winter weather from dawn to dusk. That is, every few hours. I suppose this is my, and many others, quarter-life crisis. That feeling of standing at the precipice, with only two options, both of which are daunting and cause a whirlwind of emotions akin to a smoothie in a blender.
Those moments deepen my understanding of the YA protagonists that I’ve always believed were laughably too serious and overburdened with dramatics. All I need now is an emotional indie hit playing softly in the background as I gaze contemplatively out of the window, watching the rain portray the inner turmoil I feel.
I’ve discovered that, unfortunately, my peers and I rely on the structure of school to function throughout the year. Anything without a multitude of deadlines, places to be, and assignments feels nebulous and wrong. It’s why summer can be so strange and timeless; there’s nothing to anchor down every day to a set point in the chronological progression of time. This is what many graduates face, on any degree level, unless they’re going directly into the workforce. That period of in-between, when job hunting hangs over your head and you either scrape by on rent or move back home, can be tricky to get through. Partly because, at least in my case, the question as to whether or not I was actually qualified to do anything, beyond hanging my degree on the wall and working retail, was plaguing my existence.

Since the fall of 2022, I've been working as an elementary music teacher, a job I always swore I'd avoid like the plague. Life is funny like that. The things we cross our hearts to never be and the places we determine to not go are usually what and where we end up. I've been trying to find a work/life balance and revive my old hobbies. Easier said than done, of course. So here I am again, writing the introductory post to a blog, a hobby I left behind years ago. Only, this time I have the words to say and the heart to share.

So, hello! I'm Mikayla, a musician, artist, creator, and lover of all things outdoors. Welcome to my cozy little corner of the world! Grab a cup of tea, have a seat, and make yourself at home.