God Uses Underdogs to Show His Power

Today, the choral groups from my High School, Nazareth Academy, participated in a Music Festival and Competition at an amusement park called Darien Lake.

Nazareth was competing against many different schools from all over New York State including Oswego High and Bishop Kearney. Some groups were in band while others were choral; the Nazareth Academy Choir and Nazareth Academy Perosians were the only two entries for the Women's Choral Section of the Choral Department, making the chances of getting first and second in Women's Choral definite.

But first place wasn't the only thing on the minds of the Perosian Choir. In our first two years at Darien Lake "Music In the Parks," we've been able to gain all-around Grand Champion. This year was the last time we could gain that, as Nazareth Academy is closing as of June 30, 2010.

Of course we were nervous. We were competing against schools that had more than double what Nazareth has - only 166 young women! There were maybe at least 30 members in Academy Choir and only 21 young women made up our tiny Perosian Choir (a select group of students). I think there were more in the competing schools than in our choirs, individually!

Before the Academy Choir performed, I had gathered a couple of my friends and we prayed. We thanked God for bringing both Choirs to the point we were at. We then asked Him to show His power through us and show the other schools what we were all about.

Both the Perosian and Academy Choirs gave their all - and it paid off! The Academy Choir placed Third Place all around with a score of 98.6 out of a possible 100; the Perosian Choir won overall Grand Champion with a score 99.8!

As a graduating Senior in both choirs, I am extremely proud of the efforts that we poured into this competition. Compared to the other schools Nazareth was competing against, we are underdogs. Prior to our first competition at Darien Lake, some doubted the Perosian Choir, the first to attend, could go to the top. Some claimed that it was because our choir was very small. But through our efforts, the Nazareth Academy Choir and Perosian Choir were able to prove these people wrong and scored high and ultimately, the Academy has won first Third Place then Second Place in Women's Choral and the tiny Perosian Choir has won won three Grand Champion titles, three years in a row!

I thank everyone who made these achievements possible.

I thank all members in both Academy Choir and Perosian Choir. You have done Nazareth Academy proud and I'm sure you will carry our Nazareth Academy Laser Spirit wherever you go.

Thank You, Mr. Bret Miller, for your patience and willingness not to give up on us. You saw our potential and you helped us see that too. You instilled in us, not being afraid to face challenges and overcoming great adversity as a "Little David" school going against what some consider "Big Goliath" schools.

To my Heavenly Lord and Savior, I Thank You for helping both the Academy Choir and Perosian Choir when the going got tough and we were discouraged. And you used us to show the world that You work even through two small choirs from a small, private, Christian school! Thank You, God!