How Joining a Local Youth Choir Saved My Life From Street Vices

Growing up in a busy neighbourhood, the easiest way to fit in was to stand on the street corners with the older boys as evening fell. What started as harmless gist and laughter quickly turned into passing around bottles of codeine syrup and wraps of cannabis just to feel bold. Before long, several of my close friends were dropping out of school, getting into trouble with the authorities, and losing touch with their families.

My turning point came on a rainy Saturday afternoon when I ducked into a local church hall just to stay dry and heard the youth choir rehearsing. They were singing a four part harmony of Angel Voices Ever Singing, and the sheer power of their blended voices stopped me in my tracks. The choir director noticed me lingering by the door and, instead of chasing me away because of my rough appearance, invited me to sit and listen.

That simple invitation changed the entire trajectory of my life. I returned the next week, not because I was a great singer, but because the rehearsal hall felt like the only safe, peaceful environment in my entire week. Slowly, the two hours I spent learning vocal parts on Saturdays and Tuesdays began to replace the hours I used to spend wasting away on the streets.

Joining that choir gave me the exact tools I needed to break free from negative peer pressure:

• A new circle of friends: I was suddenly surrounded by ambitious, focused young people who cared about my wellbeing and held me accountable.

• A sense of discipline: Learning to read sheet music, control my breathing, and show up on time taught me self control that spilled over into my academics.

• Healthy dopamine: The natural rush of hitting a perfect chord with thirty other voices completely replaced the fake high I used to chase in substances.

Today, I look back with immense gratitude for the Gracious Hymns and Chants movement and every local choir director keeping their doors open for lost youths. A choir is much more than a singing group; it is a lifeboat that rescues young minds from the traps of addiction and gives them a stage to shine.

If you are struggling with habits you want to break and need a safe space to talk, click this link to connect with us, as we are here to listen and help.