A Song of Fear and Faith

Borrego Sun youth intern Mia Garcia shares a poem about courage and her first live performance.

The memory of Una Noche Mexicana

By: Mia Garcia

It was an amazing event.

It was my first night performing a song on stage.

There was fear.

The adrenaline was too much to control.

I wore my lucky pendant,

hoping it would ease my stress.

A treasure passed on from my grandpa,

to my mother,

and then onto me.

It was a token of family support,

close to my heart.

Feeling blessed.

Now I am waiting in the dressing room,

wondering, "When is my time on stage?"

The excitement went from head to toe

and through my rib cage.

It was almost my turn.

I wanted to leave,

but that's not the Mia I was raised to be.

Being on stage for the first time can be exciting.

To me, right now, it's just frightening.

This mountain seems tough to climb,

but I practiced and prepared.

I will be just fine.

I got on stage and sang my heart out.

Did I do it right,

or did I ruin the night?

It hurts.

I might have messed up the show.

But I didn't.

I felt my supporters' approval from the front row.

With that, my inner confidence began to flow.

I did it.

I actually did it.

It started with fear,

tested my limits,

but I rose above

and sang from my soul.

That night, I learned that it's okay to have fear.

With preparation and faith,

I can persevere.

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Mentor Notes

Mia is a thoughtful, hardworking teen who speaks in a naturally poetic way, so I knew this project would be a good fit for her.

Her poem shows how fear can turn into confidence through preparation, faith, and family support. She organized her experience with a clear beginning, middle, and end, taking readers from backstage nerves to the moment she found her voice.

Maria, Mia’s sister, also helped keep the creative energy going. She stayed nearby playing music while we worked, earning the nickname “DJ Chill.” Sometimes we needed faster music, sometimes slower, and sometimes I made requests that she had to figure out on the spot. Having Maria nearby made the project even more fun and rewarding.

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