"Sit down, Maya," Mrs. Rodriguez said. "Before we begin, I need to tell you about my past."
Maya sat on the piano bench, curious about what her teacher was going to say.
"Thirty years ago, I was known as Maria Rodriguez-Santos," Mrs. Rodriguez began. "I was a concert pianist who performed all over the world. I played with famous orchestras and won several international competitions. Music was my whole life."
Maya was amazed. She had always known that Mrs. Rodriguez was a good teacher, but she never imagined her teacher had been so successful.
"What happened?" Maya asked. "Why did you stop?"
Mrs. Rodriguez was quiet for a moment. "I got married and had children," she said. "My husband wanted me to focus on family instead of traveling for concerts. Back then, it was much harder for women to have both a music career and a family. I chose family, and I have never regretted that choice. But I have missed performing."
Maya understood now why Mrs. Rodriguez was such a good teacher: she had the experience of a professional musician.
"But you, Maya," Mrs. Rodriguez continued, "you have a chance to do what I could not do. You can prove that talent and hard work are more important than what other people think is possible."
Mrs. Rodriguez stood up and walked to a closet that Maya had never paid attention to before. She opened it and pulled out several thick books and sheets of music.
"These are my old competition pieces," Mrs. Rodriguez said. "I have been saving them for the right student. I think that student is you."
Maya felt excited and scared at the same time. She knew that competition pieces were much more difficult than anything she had ever played before.