October 23rd, 2025--3:47 PM--"Shortest Seven Minutes"

[Your Local Shadow Simp]

October 23rd, 2025–3:48 PM

I sit in the comfort of my own home, and I sit in my bed, my laptop well…in my lap, staring at this text box, not really sure how to say things and get them to sound how I want to sound.

To put it simply, I’m utterly terrified.

Six weeks of near constant preparation comes down to this.
37 hours (give or take) until the All-State Audition cuts are released.

Six weeks of near constant preparation comes down to the shortest seven minutes of my life.

I walk into this classroom and greet my judge.
I state my name and vocal part, and it’s showtime.

I cannot help but panic.
The smallest mistake can determine my fate.

I cannot help but panic.
The judges look for perfection in the smallest details.

I cannot help but panic.
Music is my life, and it all comes down to this–the shortest seven minutes of my life.

They do not see the preparation I have put into what I present to them, and they do not see the literal blood, sweat, and tears I put into it.

My whole music career boils down to approximately a total of twenty-eight minutes.

Seven minutes.
Four separate years.

Fourteen already spent.
Fourteen yet to come.

Yet I cannot help but panic.