By: Efran Zhao

If I were caught in a catastrophic storm and could only save one object, I would save my violin. Other than all my electronics, my violin is one of the only objects that is worth anything to me.

Everything can be accessed online now; you can download any book you want to read with a device, but one thing a device can’t replicate is the sentimental value of an instrument.

I personally feel a deep connection with it, as I have been playing since I was five. I have spent so much time and effort on my violin. From practicing every day for one to two hours even on vacations, to obsessing over every little detail in my playing, it would truly feel like a waste if I didn’t save it.

It is also the main source of joy for me other than anything to do with devices. Throughout the years of playing violin, I’ve found that the better I am the more fun it is to just play. I find it much more valuable to save than, say, a book.

I can use the violin to entertain myself when I’m bored and can also use the violin for community service, like going to senior living homes to perform or entertaining other people who might be seeking shelter from the catastrophic storm. I love the experience of going to a senior living home and playing for them because I can feel that they are truly affected by my music and how grateful they are to me for doing so.