Dr. Maya Shankar

You're not sure if you have what it takes to succeed.

And him taking me on as a student, I think, really helped me appreciate, oh, wow, maybe I could actually be a violinist and go pro.

And him taking me on as a student, I think, really helped me appreciate, oh, wow, maybe I could actually be a violinist and go pro.

So unfortunately, what happened is that when I was 15, I was in summer music camp.

So unfortunately, what happened is that when I was 15, I was in summer music camp.

I woke up early, probably didn't warm up as much as I should have.

I woke up early, probably didn't warm up as much as I should have.

And I overstretched my finger on a single note and heard a pop.

And I overstretched my finger on a single note and heard a pop.

And it turns out I had torn tendons in my hand.

And it turns out I had torn tendons in my hand.

And

And

I resisted Hala for so many months, the diagnosis that my doctors were giving me and the fact that they were telling me I could never play the violin again.

I resisted Hala for so many months, the diagnosis that my doctors were giving me and the fact that they were telling me I could never play the violin again.

But ultimately, I just had to surrender at a certain point.

But ultimately, I just had to surrender at a certain point.

And, you know, the pain became too intense.

And, you know, the pain became too intense.

And yeah, I realized that, you know, my dreams were crushed and I could no longer pursue this path.