By Amirah Atiqah binti Adrein
œLet them say what they want to say, I will continue to play music, said Adam Adrein.
Adam Adrein is now in his first year studying music in Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA). There were many challenges that he had to go through to get to where he is today.
His big heart and passion for music have truly brought him to places he never thought he would have arrived. Life has taught him that there is nothing greater but to stay true to what he believes in.
Adam is the youngest child. Growing up, he has always been the jokester and brought joy to the family. He has a cheeky and loveable big personality that always drew other people in.
He is definitely a character to remember. He grew up in a family who loved music. None of his family members knew how to play an instrument though, except for his grandfather who knew how to play the guitar well.
His life revolved around music. œDancing and singing are the only thing I loved doing as a kid, he said.
Ever since he was a little boy, his mother being a primary school teacher, realised that he has always been quite different from other kids. Hes always very fidgety with his hands and he could not stop and sit still.
She then decided to take a chance and encouraged him to take music lessons to learn the drum beating when he was as young as 7 years old. After a few classes that he attended, his mother realised that Adam has found his true calling.
œAsking my son to take up drum classes was the best decision I have ever made. Who knew he would be such a natural, his mother stated.
Adam was always eager and excited to go to his drum classes. Excited to learn and play a new song, his teacher allowed him to learn and venture into various genres of music.
Within the same year, Adam started his primary school years. At this stage, like every kid he was trying to navigate his life in the social environment within school compound.
It is during this time that children learn about friendships, making mistakes and learning to handle responsibilities. These experiences acquired will help shape one to become who he or she is in the future.
However, being born physically with a very skinny and small figure, Adam was often seen as a target for bullying by kids who are bigger than him. Sadly enough, most often, the bullies are his own friends.
He had to learn a lot about the reality of life at a very raw age. The bullying came in several forms such as hurtful words thrown at him and rough fights he had to bear with. He grew up to learn to become stronger and to always find ways to defend for himself.
Instead of being able to live a carefree life playing and learning with his friends, oftentimes he needs to prove himself as a strong boy who can take a hit or accepts the mean words thrown at him.
When his mother found out he was bullied, she quickly told him not to worry.
œDespite the bullying, I always have fun time with my friends. People make mistakes because no one is perfect. I will always forgive them no matter what, Adam said.
His academic performance was not his strongest asset. It was obvious to him that music was his only strength and the route he wanted to pursue in life.
His parents were worried because it is evident in the Malaysian culture of a stigma against their children pursuing performing arts as a career. Nevertheless, they took a leap of faith.
Looking back at the bullying and his inability to obtain good grades, Adam still worked hard to make sure that he was accepted into one of Malaysias popular boarding school – the Sekolah Seni Malaysia Kuala Lumpur.
Getting into the school had opened the doors for him which he never dreamed he would get a chance to join. He soon realised that he was a fast learner and that he could pick up almost any instrument and learn to play it there and then.
Until this day, he was able to learn to play flute, bass and electric guitar. The whole school saw him as a student with great potential.
Teachers started to take him under their wings and included him in multiple projects. However, the students in his batch envied him. Adam found that his journey with bullying was not over.
œThe bullying got really bad to the point where I had to call my mom every single morning asking her to pick me up and leave the school, Adam said.
His friends called him names and thought that he was weird and hyper due to his fidgeting. Finding out what the students had done to him, his family decided to take him for a medical check-up and found that he was diagnosed with having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
With this diagnosis, his family began to understand why Adam was the way that he is. Adam knew it was easy for him to learn music but found it harder to excel in academics.
His condition only allowed him to pay full attention and excel in the thing that he loves doing it and not in the thing where he dislikes which is studying.
In the end, he was only able to stay on for a year.
œI left not because I was weak. But because I realise that I deserved something better, Adam stated.
With uncertainty, he joined a high school near his house where, fortunately, he was able to find good friends who cherished his talent and œweirdness.
Teachers there were loving and accepted him. His family supported him to perform at shows and gigs outside of school. There, he managed to meet more people in the music industry who truly see his passion as a great potential.
His teachers helped him in his study to pass his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) papers and his talent allowed him to be eligible to join Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA), one of the greatest arts colleges in Malaysia.
Now, as he looks back to his past he began to understand that every path that he took has led him to where he is today.
œI learned that whatever life brings, I should always cherish what my heart wants and to always do good to people, Adam said.***
(This article is written as part of individual assignment series for Feature Writing class)