Whoa.

I’m a bit iffy on life-changing experiences. Or maybe, it’s more the Hollywood version of them that bugs me.

A homeless man in Los Angeles finds his solace in a cello, overcoming his poverty and calming his mental instability: The Soloist.  A Roman warrior loses his family, wealth, and freedom due to the hate of a tyrant: the Gladiator. A teacher, surrounded by underprivileged high school students, faces hate crimes and still has undying dedication to her students: Dangerous Minds.

These Hollywood clips are the first life-changing experiences that come to mind: an artist’s struggle, a warrior’s vengeance, a teacher’s dedication. But the plotlines always make me think, “What have I accomplished in my life?” Or is Hollywood really just full of clichés?

How a Concert Changed the Course of my Life

Sorry about the bad quality of this picture. I took it with my phone, which – back

in 2008 – wasn’t one that took very good pictures

During my teenage years, I worked for FM4, an Austrian radio station. My job was to go to concerts and report what I saw there,what my impressions were of the artists, the location, and the atmosphere. It was a fun job – it gave me quite a bit of insight into the music and radio entertainment industry, and it also allowed me to travel to cities all over Europe. But what it really did for me was that it sparked my predilection for language, writing and communication. How come? Let me tell you.