APEX CURRENT

When you look in the mirror, what do you actually see? Do you see the person you truly are, or do you see the version of yourself that feels inadequate and broken? For a long time, looking in the mirror was my greatest fear. Today, I’ve conquered that fear—but I know so many people who still struggle with it every single day. If you’re reading this and feeling trapped in that shadow, let me tell you how night and day can exist within the same lifetime. The Shadow of 2020: Isolation and Vulnerability I was never a typical kid; I always craved adrenaline, nature, and new experiences. But when the 2020 pandemic hit, everything ground to a halt. Locked inside, my unhealthy eating habits spiraled out of control. By the time I was in 7th grade, I was pushing nearly 80 kilograms (175 lbs). 2018/before highschool and pandemic Carrying that much weight as a young teenager while still dreaming of adventurous experiences turned out to be a recipe for peer bullying. While my classmates bonded onli...

 Not every melody can be played on every instrument, just as not every instrument fits every musician. Looking back at my three to four years of piano lessons and recitals, I realized that while the piano built my core foundation, it wasn't my true destination. I needed an instrument that matched my energy. My next detour was the guitar. As a child, I was deeply drawn to music because I loved the visual storytelling in music videos. One day, I saw my uncle listening to the band Gorillaz. The animated music videos for Clint Eastwood and Feel Good Inc. instantly captured my imagination. Hearing the iconic riff in Feel Good Inc. gave me an overwhelming desire to learn how to play it myself. My uncle was a drummer, so his house was always full of drumsticks. I remember grabbing a pair of his sticks, holding them like a guitar, and passionately pretending to play along to the song. Back then, lacking musical experience, I didn't even realize that the riff I fell in love with was ...

 Music was always playing in the background while I was growing up. Whether I was making a simple meal in the kitchen or working on a school project, there was always a rhythm filling the room. But I have always been a hands-on person. Just listening to music wasn't enough for me—I wanted to understand how it worked and create it myself. 2014/my first piano stage My musical journey started with a simple question from my dad when he picked me up from kindergarten: "Would you like to learn how to play the piano?" Most kids at that age might hesitate or wonder if they would be any good at it. I didn't think for even two seconds. "Yes!" I said instantly. To me, it sounded like a fun new adventure, so why not try? The Finger Emoji Hack and the First Stage When I sat in front of the piano for the first time, the 88 keys looked overwhelming. I constantly mixed up the order of the notes— Do, Re, Mi —and struggled to remember which finger belonged on which key. 2016...