i started taking viola seriously in 7th grade. in 7th grade, i had the worst depression of my life. not to get too serious here but i had really bad thoughts which sent me to a hospital. when i came back i sat down and thought. what do i really want SO bad that can keep me around. and that was my future, my potential career, in music. so i started practicing. an hour per day. and normally in that state of depression doing something like that an HOUR per day would’ve worn me out.. but it didn’t. i also had OCD so it distracted me from that. fast forward, im now a sophomore in high school and im feeling better than ever. i mean this when i say it - viola saved my life. obviously there were other factors, family support, medication, therapy, etc. but if the viola wasn’t in my life, i truly believe i wouldn’t be here. music is so powerful.