Team 180 Player Spotlight: Thayer Hubbard
This week’s player spotlight features Thayer Hubberd. Thayer is the Team 180 class of ’22 goalie. She attends Louisville Middle School and is a budding musician. Read her story below!
Ever since I was little, I have had a passion for all things involving music. Whether that be singing in the shower, belting out Miley Cyrus in the car with my older sister, or performing for others, I have always loved it. Even when I was 18 months old, I was singing (or at least trying to) around my family. So, when the opportunity for me to be able to learn to play an instrument came around, I was eager to try it out. I first picked up a guitar when I was 8 years old, at a summer camp in Arizona. I was reluctant to try it at first, but once we started to learn a few songs, I knew that I would carry it on for the rest of my life. I remember the first song I learned how to play was “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons. I will never forget the day that I played the entire song for the first time without errors. It was the night of the camp talent show, and believe me, I was scared out of my mind. I couldn’t think straight, my hands and knees were shaking the entire time, and I’m almost 100% sure I cried 3 times prior to my entrance onto the stage. When I finished playing, I closed my eyes. I was so afraid that I had botched it and embarrassed my teacher. But when I opened my eyes, everyone was standing up and clapping. For me. I couldn’t believe it. I had done little performances for my family and friends before, but the reaction I received that night has shaped me into the musician that I am today.
As soon as I returned home, I begged my parents to allow me to buy a guitar of my own. After weeks of nagging, they finally caved, and my dream started to come true. I met with my school music teacher, and he taught me how to play songs of all styles, with riffs, without… acoustic and electric… I was in absolute heaven. Then, it hit me. If I could sing and play songs that other people had written, why couldn’t I sing and play songs that I wrote myself?
When I got home that night, I started to write my first song. If I remember correctly, it was titled, “Flaws”. Let’s just say that was not some of my best work. That was when I was 9 years old, around the time I started to pick up the ukulele. Playing multiple instruments and writing songs has definitely benefitted me on the lacrosse field and within my other athletic or academic endeavors. I have learned that when you can focus enough with a common goal, anything can be achieved. That goal could be learning a song, passing a test, or even having a certain save percentage in a game. Music has opened the doors to so many new ways for me to understand how I want to live my life.
Though there is definitely an abundance of stage fright, performing is one of my favorite things to do. To see how my words can move people and make them feel feelings that they have never felt before brings me so much joy. The lyrics I write have an extremely personal meaning to me, as well as my closest friends and family. Music is my outlet. I can tackle almost all of my problems by writing songs or listening to music or performing at concerts. Some girls may write in a journal, but I write in my songbook. Songwriting is my escape. It is a way for me to express myself without fear of being judged and constantly evaluated by my peers. Due to the fact that I tend to keep my guard up, singing and playing guitar, ukulele, bass, and piano, give me an outlet and a way to communicate to people what I am feeling.
Most recently, I was asked to perform my original song, “Where are we Going” at my school concert. I was lucky enough to receive so much great feedback and even a standing ovation from the audience. Without my music, I wouldn’t be the person or the player that I am today.
Listen to Where Are We Going: Thayer Hubbar Original
