Sheltered Reality changes this students life

CLARENCE - Growing up in a small town makes the world seem small.

This seemed especially true for a 13-year-old girl until the day I saw Sheltered Reality, a local drum line. Sheltered Reality taught me there was more to life than what I saw in a tiny town.

The first day I saw Sheltered Reality was a normal day in middle school. When they started their first song, I lost myself - or maybe just my inhibitions - in the music. I let myself have more fun than I'd had in months.

I clapped loud enough to be heard.

Steve Schlosser, executive director of Sheltered Reality, concluded the show by saying, 'Don't forget we have practice after this show at the United Church of Christ in Tipton. Anyone can attend.”

Once home, I discussed joining Sheltered Reality with my parents. It cost $45 every month as membership fee. When my mom told me this, I thought it was over. But, my parents were fine with the fee. I had my doubts if I could dance and play the drums in front of people.

After two months, I decided I couldn't let the opportunity pass. During the first practice, I learned the basics of drumming. Members were surprised I'd learned so quickly. I told them I'd been a percussionist for nearly four years. They decided then to teach me how to bounce a ball on the drums. The rest of the practice I spent more time chasing the balls around the church and laughing at myself than actually bouncing the ball.

When the practice was over, I knew I'd found something good.

Two months later, I was talked into playing in my first show. I'd like to say it went well, but it didn't go great. Regardless of my blunders, I still had fun. I've made many friends. When I come to practices, I have been welcomed by multiple friendly faces. I now have friends spanning across states, people I would never heave met if I had not gone to that first practice.

Sheltered Reality is a nonprofit organization promoting a message of self-reliance and peer acceptance. They have practice sites all across the Midwest. They teach people of all ages a simple drum lesson on the timbales, but that is not the only thing Sheltered Reality teaches. They teach their members leadership skills and how to believe in themselves.

On March 17, Sheltered Reality will play for the junior/senior high students of North Cedar High School. The past few years, Sheltered Reality has received a grant from Community Foundation of Cedar County to play at all the schools in Cedar County.