By: Diana H. Zhao
On a cold winter afternoon, I arrived at the award ceremony feeling nervous and excited to be a part of the award ceremony. The building was already full of other volunteers and people instructing other people. Volunteers from CYOC were everywhere, helping with decorations and making sure everyone was where they needed to be, while performers quietly practiced backstage and ran rehearsals. From backstage, I could hear music from the stage and the sound of people talking as the audience settled in. Even before the ceremony officially began, it was clear that a lot of teamwork was happening behind the scenes.
While waiting backstage, I watched other performances get ready. While dancers adjusted their costumes and practiced their steps, the steady beat of drums echoed through the hall. Others helped carry the props to where they were supposed to be, trying to stay calm before going on stage. Being backstage felt different from being in the audience because I could see how much effort everyone put into their performances. As part of the choir, I rehearsed with the rest of the group, trying to stay focused while also watching the performances ahead of us. Since we were the second to last performance, there was a lot of waiting, which made me feel nervous but also excited.
When it was almost our turn, I could feel the audience’s eyes already on us, even though we were backstage. Stepping onto the stage with the choir, I couldn’t really see the audience, the light shining down on us was too bright, and it just felt like the choir was the only one there. Singing near the end of the ceremony made our performance feel special, like we were helping bring the event to a meaningful close. By the time the ceremony was over, I felt tired but proud. Volunteering with CYOC at this award ceremony showed me how much work happens behind the scenes and how important it is to support one another.
Website Editor: Sophie Xu
华府青年 CYOC 
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