“Dreams are fragile things.”

Hi Nicolle,

I know that you’re not even back from Orlando yet, but I had to get this down while I had a moment.

Shea and I have been back for a couple of days and have had some time to reflect and decompress, to take it all in and discuss everything with the family. I know you’re aware that Zen and I were very reluctant for Shea to follow this path. It took what, a year, year and a half of Shea begging for us to relent and allow her to go to AMTC. We were very skeptical of what Shea would really “get out of” the experience. And of course, it was a sizeable financial commitment – not to mention time commitment. But Shea proved to us over the past year that she was seriously dedicated to performing. She worked really hard. And, it paid off so much more than I ever would have imagined.

Having gone through the past week at AMTC, I have to say it was the most positive experience for both Shea and myself. We’d do it again in a heartbeat. It actually brought us closer together. And the confidence AND humility that it has built in Shea is invaluable. She learned what it is like to be a winner – and she learned to gracefully concede to others who may have worked a little harder, as well.

If I had the opportunity to speak to other parents who like me, are considering AMTC but are skeptical of the many commitments, I would strongly encourage them to listen to their children – and to listen to you. I would tell them to listen to you because you have such an awesome reputation to uphold in the industry that you wouldn’t jeopardize that by taking someone you didn’t feel was “ready” to AMTC. You know what the industry is looking for and you provide it to them at every convention. Your track record speaks for itself, I know – but as a parent who lived it, I would tell other parents not to doubt it. And I would tell them to listen to their children – dreams are fragile things.

As parents, it is our job to guide them and support them wherever we can. I would tell them that if their child seems serious about performing, that they grasp the commitment that it will take to sharpen their skills for convention, and that they have the drive and the will to succeed – there’s nothing holding them back except doubt. Opportunity knocks only a few times in a lifetime for most of us – this was a large leap of faith for my own family to make. But I am SO very glad that we made it. I’ve never seen my child so happy, so confident and sure of what she wants.

She wants to perform. And Nicolle and all her staff have made it possible for her to do just that.

Okay, so I’m totally rambling…yeah, we’re not quite over all the emotions and stress yet. But we’re preparing ourselves for whatever comes next. I just wanted to make sure that in all the hubbub I didn’t forget to thank you. Her Dad and I gave her support, but you gave Shea her wings.

Thank you so very much for everything.

Melodee (and Shea)