I wanted to write this month’s column as somewhat of a testimonial, and to inspire our youth to follow their dreams.
As my son Nathaniel began his senior year of college this past September, I started to reminisce about his introduction to playing music. As he chose the double bass as his instrument, he had no idea that it would be the key to unlock the door to his future as an adult. When I left my career in the printing industry to be a stay-at-home parent, I had no idea that I would become a music journalist or end up going back to school for a photography degree. Both of us have approached life as an unpredictable ocean; one that we have chosen to sail, through the still waters as well as the swells.
We recently had a chance to parlay our new life ventures in a very unique way. Nathaniel has a final recital to perform in order to graduate and begin teaching music. A formal program needs to be presented to the administrative board for this recital, so he needed photographs.
With his musical partner Emily, Nathaniel and I would take to the Springbrook Prairie trails and capture the photographs for what could be the most important project of his young life. It was at that moment I realized that we were actively fulfilling our dreams. Nathaniel is preparing to be a music teacher and I’m capturing images on a professional level, and we are doing it all in a place that encouraged us to pursue our dreams — a place we like to call “home.”
