Thank you.

On July 7th, we visited the Oakview senior home in Thousand Oaks. Unfortunately, because it is summer, a lot of our members were on vacation and weren't able to attend this specific performance. Yet, the four members that did come — me, Julia, Sophia, and Kaitlyn — managed to pull the entire performance off together. Here's a picture of us together!

There are many seniors that usually enjoy our performances, and it's easy to tell because they often sing during pieces they recognize or come to talk to us afterwards. This week, one man came up to us and our parents who were observing from the side. Because Oakview is very strict on their elders' confidentiality, I can't name names, but the man told us that we should be proud of what we were doing and that although they may not show it, all of the seniors were appreciative of the time we took to come and perform our favorite pieces for them. He told our parents that they should be proud of their kids and their passion for performing at senior homes. This was and is my motivation for creating ME&WE.

This man expressed the joy I hoped to provide for the seniors we play for. As a high school student, there are many stresses with schooling, but ME&WE isn't another thing I need to be stressed for. Rather, knowing that I can make others happy with my passion for music is what relieves my stress. The man mentioned that the elderly men and women were appreciative of the music we played for them, but I am more appreciative of the continuous respect and happiness they give back to us. In a sense, together, we welcome the common passion we all have — music — to lighten up each of our lives and embrace the joy of the moment.

Without ME&WE and seniors like that old man, I would never have found the gleeful rewarding feeling in knowing that I am making someone's life a little better by providing the one thing I have: my love for music. Thank you to that man for revealing to me the true meaning of ME&WE.

- Jamie Lee

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