Why Fei Tian?

Sarah and her father enjoy a stylish moment on the greens in the UK.

Why did I choose Fei Tian? The answer is simple: I was sick of public school. I came knowing full well the school’s policies and that I would have to work really hard in order to become a professional musician, and never once have I looked back. Of course, when I received my acceptance letter, I was terrified as well as excited. An unknown world in a foreign land away from my parents was a daunting idea. That’s normal. It was equal parts thrilling and scary when I made the decision to come here, but my parents supported me, and looking back, I think it was probably the best decision I’ve made in my life.

Back in England I attended a public school. I had Instagram, I had Snapchat, I hung out with the ‘popular’ crowd and went to parties, I had many friends… but I was not happy. I always kept my love for music relatively hidden, and never spoke openly about my spiritual beliefs, in fear of ridicule or not ‘fitting in.’ But ‘fitting in’ was costing me everything I held dear. Pressure from social media and loneliness made me want to be someone I wasn’t, and looking back now, I can see that I was deeply isolated and pretty lost. At times all I wanted was to forget about all those shallow, petty relationships and mind games, disconnect myself from social media and just be myself – but I found it too hard.

I’m now in my third year of college at Fei Tian, and the environment here couldn’t be more different. When I’m asked by strangers, what’s it like studying at your school? I’ll say, as an artist, you want to be surrounded by beautiful things. Here at Fei Tian, I’m not only living on a beautiful campus, I’m also surrounded by beautiful values, traditions and honestly some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met in my life. How can I in turn not be inspired to create beautiful music? How can I not be inspired to be a better person? Of course, I’m not saying that everything is perfect. I get into arguments with my roommates just as much as the next college student does, and I often get frustrated with my instrument as much as any dedicated musician would too. But when I get into an argument, or run into a roadblock, it’s my faith that guides me to search myself and try to figure out where I went wrong, instead of pushing the blame on others, or giving up on something in a fit of anger. It’s this aspect that sets us apart from other schools, and what has helped me form strong friendships and a positive learning attitude.

Perhaps some people think that with restrictions on social media and phones, aren’t I giving up my freedom? Actually, I’ve never felt more free. I came here fully aware of the restrictions on phone usage, and that was my choice. And every day I continue to make the same choice. No one forces me to do that, as I came with my own vision and my own dream, and every day I choose to dedicate my time and life to my art, knowing that success in any field takes sacrifice.

Hard, grueling work is a given for any artist. Why did Michelangelo paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for 14 years of his life, painting daily in such a painful position when he could only see but a small section of his masterpiece at any given time, constantly facing criticism and pressure from his contemporaries and the Pope? Why did Beethoven keep composing even after he turned deaf? Why did Heifetz, Rostropovich, Horowitz and Karajan spend their lives constantly reaching for greater technical and musical heights when the world was convinced that they were already the best musicians of their time? They knew that through their hard work and dedication, they could bring beautiful art to the world. Whether it be a ceiling of a chapel that inspired millions, or a symphony that had the power to move audiences to tears, these great artists understood that hard work was what it took to create great art. To be a professional orchestral musician, you have to spend hours on end practicing; this is a given for any music student, and I am no different.

I would also like to mention something on the topic of injuries. In 2020 I suffered an injury to my left arm, struggled to play the violin and had to stop taking lessons with my teacher at the time. I sought out another teacher who could help me fix my technique, had online sessions with physical therapists and sought treatment from a doctor of Chinese medicine. Never during the process did I feel discriminated against for making these choices, and never was I once discouraged from finding such treatment. On the contrary, I was supported by my classmates and teachers, who encouraged me to find help and were there for me every step of the way, always reminding me to keep a positive mindset. I was given ample space and time to heal while taking time off from rehearsals before I was able to play properly again. Though I am fully healed now, I still have classmates reminding me once in a while to be careful, not to lift anything heavy and to be sure not to overwork myself. Without their care and the support of my teachers and the community here, I honestly doubt I would have been able to pull through such an injury, as for most violinists, a serious left hand injury can be career-ending.

Music has always been my passion; faith, my rock. Here at Fei Tian, I have an environment in which to hone my art. Here, I have a community in which I can be kind and practice my faith openly without fear of discrimination. Here, I have the opportunity as part of my school practicum to spread a message of hope and beauty to the world. This is why I chose Fei Tian, and why I would choose it again, and again.