My name's Rebecca. I'm 24, from Lancaster in the UK, and I'm a music fan. I've grown up listening to all kinds of artists, but never before have a band impacted me and my life in the way that 30 Seconds To Mars have. Their music and lyrics have gotten me through some of the hardest and most trying times of my life, and I've come out the other side a better person. This is my echelon story.
Music has always been a big part of my life; it made me smile and made me feel a bit better when things got rough. Until a few years ago I was a young woman being bullied for not being pretty or normal enough for people to like, and I had little self esteem and self belief. I used to dream that I'd one day find a band or a song that would change my life; I believed in it so badly, and yet, for the longest time, it didn't happen. That was until one day when a song came on the TV - and that song was 'Capricorn (A Brand New Name)' by 30 Seconds To Mars.
It didn't matter that the title was the same as my star-sign, although I couldn't help but smile at that; it was more what the song's lyrics expressed and empowered in me. The one stand out line for me has always been 'Start again, with a brand new name'. As a victim of bullying, it made me realise that despite how people spoke to, treated and judged me, I could do what I wanted, be who I wanted to be and be proud of those things.
I continued to listen to that song whenever things got to me; school, exams, arguements with friends - after listening to that song, everything seemed a little clearer in my mind and my outlook was a little brighter. Today, it is still one of the most played songs on my ipod - testatment to the impact it has had upon me, as it still does. My admiration for the band and their music has only grown stronger as they have gone onto achieve more and more of their dreams, ambitions and the success they've worked so hard for.
As a proud member of the echelon for some years now, in 2009 I joined twitter. There I could chat to and discuss things people on the other side of the world - and never before have I seen a community of people so dedicated not only to the band, their music and their messages but also to one another. Having found the echelon, and the online twitter community, I felt, for the first time in years, that I was where I was supposed to be. I will openly admit that to the many people I regularly chat to, I am closer to them than my true family; I do not wish to hide that fact, for my fellow echelon understand me, and for that I am grateful.
My first live 30STM experience was a night I will always remember. In November 2009 I gathered at Koko in London with a few hundred of my fellow echelon, made some great friends who I value dearly, and above all else, had an amazing time with people I share a common passion and acknowledgement with. I thank all those who were there for being part of the experience with me - like you, those memories I have will last a lifetime.
Since then I have gone onto see the band three more times, and every time they take those first steps on that stage, I feel more and more closely connected to them and what they and their songs mean to me, both as an individual, and as a proud echelon member.
If I could say one thing to Jared, Shannon and Tomo it would be this. Your music has impacted, influenced and helped so many people around the world, thank you for sharing it with us. Because of you, even those of us who felt like outcasts, now feel we belong. Thank you for your dedication to your art and to all of us. You should be very proud of who you are and what you've achieved - I know that I speak for many when I say that we are so very proud of you.
Rebecca (januaryjem)
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