Digestly

Mar 25, 2025

I'm STILL Pissed About This

Rick Beato - I'm STILL Pissed About This

The speaker recounts his journey from being a poor student with a low SAT score and GPA to eventually pursuing a successful career in music. Initially discouraged by his guidance counselor, he was inspired by peers to audition for music schools. Despite initial rejections, he persisted, learned from a talented peer, and eventually gained admission to Ithaca College as a guitar major. He later switched to a bass major and completed his undergraduate degree, followed by a Master's in jazz guitar. The speaker emphasizes the importance of determination and not letting others define one's potential. His mother's belief in his abilities, despite poor academic performance, played a crucial role in his perseverance. The story concludes with the speaker encouraging others to pursue their passions with hard work and determination.

Key Points:

  • Persistence is key: Despite low SAT scores and GPA, the speaker pursued his passion for music and succeeded.
  • Seek mentorship: Learning from a talented peer helped the speaker improve his skills and gain admission to a music program.
  • Don't let others define you: The speaker didn't let his guidance counselor's negative assessment deter him from his goals.
  • Parental support matters: The speaker's mother's belief in his potential was crucial to his perseverance.
  • Hard work pays off: Determination and effort enabled the speaker to achieve his educational and career goals.

Details:

1. 🎥 Reflecting on the Past

  • The creator is contemplating new video ideas inspired by successful themes from earlier content, suggesting a strategic return to topics that initially attracted their audience.
  • Examples of past successful themes include in-depth analysis on specific subjects and personal storytelling that resonated with viewers.
  • This reflection could lead to a refined content strategy, leveraging past insights to enhance audience engagement and retention.

2. 🎓 High School Memories and Challenges

  • The conversation involved Dylan and his 11th-grade friends discussing college preparation, indicating the relevance of early college readiness.
  • The group was preparing to take the SS, highlighting the importance of standardized testing in their academic journey.
  • Students expressed challenges in balancing academics with extracurricular activities, a common high school experience.
  • The discussion emphasized the pressure of maintaining good grades while preparing for college entrance exams, showcasing the stress faced by high school students.

3. 📉 Academic Struggles and Low GPA

  • The individual scored 880 on the SAT, indicating below-average academic performance, which reflects on their GPA.
  • The poor SAT performance was attributed to being out late for a gig the night before, showcasing a recurring issue of prioritizing non-academic activities over studies.
  • The individual consistently identifies as a bad student, suggesting a pattern of academic struggle, possibly affecting self-esteem and future academic and career opportunities.
  • The low GPA and academic struggles are further impacted by external commitments, like band gigs, which take precedence over academic responsibilities.

4. 🎸 Discovering and Preparing for Music Auditions

  • In 1979, the narrator faced a critical turning point during their senior year of high school, marked by a 1.8 GPA, severely limiting college prospects.
  • The guidance counselor confirmed that both SAT scores and GPA were insufficient for college, deflating initial aspirations.
  • Peers in the music program were actively preparing for auditions at renowned music schools and universities, highlighting a new path.
  • Specific institutions considered for auditions included SUNY schools in New York, Fredonia State, and Oberlin, indicating a strategic shift towards music education.
  • Despite academic setbacks, the narrator identified music auditions as a viable opportunity to pursue higher education and a career in music.
  • The preparation for these auditions became a focal point, requiring dedication and strategic planning to succeed.

5. 🎶 Facing Rejections and New Opportunities

5.1. 🎸 Adaptation and Audition Preparation

5.2. 🎵 Embracing Diverse Musical Styles

6. 📜 Pursuing Music Education and Transfer Success

  • Glenn, the guitar teacher, lacked classical guitar scale knowledge, relying on a Mel Bay book to teach pieces like Prelude and D Minor, and a Fugue originally in G minor.
  • The narrator learned three pieces by ear from a record, including a Scarlatti piece, highlighting self-directed learning.
  • Auditions at Fonia State and Ithaca College were unsuccessful despite preparation efforts, indicating challenges in transitioning to higher education music programs.
  • A video titled 'Fortunes of Hard Work' provides a detailed account of the narrator's early audition experiences, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and resilience.

7. 🎵 Transitioning to College and Overcoming Obstacles

  • Received rejection letters from both music schools applied to, highlighting the competitive nature of music programs.
  • A letter from a track coach at Fredonia State offered an alternative path by joining their track team, conditional on choosing a different major, illustrating the importance of flexibility in pursuing education.
  • Initially chose history as a major to gain entry, demonstrating adaptability when direct paths are unavailable.
  • Sought out the guitar teacher at Fredonia State, who declined to teach, showing the necessity of persistence and seeking alternative solutions.
  • Decided to re-audition at Ithaca College after understanding the requirements better, emphasizing the value of preparation and learning from setbacks.
  • Received guidance and training from Phil Sasso, a peer, which was crucial in preparing for the re-audition, showcasing the importance of networking and peer support.
  • Learned five different pieces and specific scales within five weeks, demonstrating dedication and rapid skill acquisition.

8. 💪 Achieving Success Through Determination

  • Faced initial skepticism about college admission due to SATs or GPA but persisted with determination.
  • Transferred to Ithaca College as a guitar major in January 1981, reflecting a willingness to adapt and embrace new opportunities.
  • Encouraged by the bass teacher, Henry Newbert, to pursue bass, showcasing openness to guidance and change.
  • Successfully switched to a bass major, demonstrating flexibility and resilience in academic pursuits.
  • Completed undergraduate degree in bass and pursued a Master's Degree in jazz guitar at New England Conservatory, highlighting commitment to advanced education.
  • Substitute taught orchestra at Fairport High School, meeting a previous guidance counselor who doubted his college admission, illustrating personal growth and overcoming past perceptions.
  • Defied initial doubts by achieving both undergraduate and Master's Degrees, exemplifying determination and academic success.

9. 👩‍👦 Parental Support and Lifelong Lessons

  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of parental support, particularly when facing challenges in education.
  • The speaker's mother provided constant encouragement by instilling the belief that academic struggles were not indicative of intelligence, suggesting teachers didn't know how to teach effectively.
  • Personal anecdotes are shared about overcoming attention difficulties (ADD or ADHD) and lack of focus, yet still achieving success through belief in oneself and determination.
  • A powerful message is conveyed about determination and hard work being more critical than academic success, as illustrated by the speaker sharing experiences with younger generations.
  • The narrative underscores the lasting impact of parental words and support, even years after the parent's passing, highlighting the importance of a supportive upbringing.
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