I had never come across a person so talented and yet with such a low self-esteem. It must have been what he had gone through as a child. He had told me about how he had disappointed his parents when he failed to clinch first place in piano competitions. They had signed him up for several competitions when he was young, but he always disappointed them. He always failed to do them proud. His parents had not reproached him but somehow, he felt intensely inadequate toward his failures.
When I brought up that topic again on another occasion, I told Vincent of my hunch that his skill had only developed to such a high standard recently. To my trained ear, he was obviously very talented. Again, he reiterated his lack of ability and promise. Then I told him,” let’s wait and see.”
As I was teaching in school, I headed the community that was organizing a concert as part of the school’s alumni event of the year. At the eleventh hour, the pianist who supposed to play some perform he had to be hospitalized. Frantic, I nevertheless had some quick and sharp thinking and I knew of a perfect candidate to fill his place. Fortunately, I could reach him at his office where he had been slaving away at his desk job all these years. However, his answer was a flat ‘No’.
“I can’t do it? I’ll disappoint you. It’ll be a mess,” he muttered without confidence. Then I pleaded at length with him.
“If you don’t help me, it’ll be the end of my career…my job. If you’re my friend, help me,” I exaggerated. Finally, he agreed.
When it was his segment of the show, Vincent gave such a brilliant performance that the audience gave him a standing ovation. He bowed with joy and for the first time in his life, the applause from the audience was music to his ears. He had not won a competition but this was as close to wining one as possible. The audience had given him their sincere approbation.
At the party after the concert, Vincent found himself surrounded by admirers. Praised flowed—“that was a sterling performance”, “you’re a splendid pianist!” and “how about joining our school as a music teacher?” this time, Vincent accepted the praises graciously and did not try to put himself down.
“How about going professional one day?” I asked again.
“Possibly,” he answered.
