X-EL at the Apollo (Round 1)

I stood in the audience of the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, the bright lights blinding me as I scanned the crowd, counting heads. I remember the day my brother he was accepted to perform. It was a moment that filled me with pride and excitement, and I could tell he was bursting with creative energy. He had a vision for what he wanted to do, and I was more than happy to support him in any way I could. As the day of the performance approached, he was feeling nervous. He was worried that his piece wouldn’t connect with the audience or that he would stumble over his words. I reassured him that he was a gifted poet and that his words would speak for themselves. When he finally took the stage, I could feel the electricity in the air. The audience was quiet, waiting with bated breath to see what he would do. And then he began to speak. His words flowed like honey, each syllable perfectly crafted and delivered with conviction. He had lost the instrumental, and instead, he had chosen to perform his piece as spoken word. Watching him on that stage was a moment I will never forget. I felt a sense of pride that words cannot describe. Here was my brother, performing on a stage bigger than any I had ever graced. He was doing what he loved, and he was doing it with passion and skill. Seeing him up there was a powerful reminder that anything was possible. He moved on to the next round, and after the performance, we hugged and celebrated his success. But for me, it was more than just a celebration of my brother’s talent; it was a wake-up call. It reminded me of the power of art, of the way it can bring people together and change lives. And it gave me the motivation I needed to keep pushing forward, to keep pursuing my own dreams with passion and dedication.