Taking the Stage: How Women Can Speak Up, Stand Out, and Succeed

Chapter OneWe Have Been Taught to Fit In, Not Stand Out

Growing up, I didn't fit in. I had four sisters who were always together—ice skating, sledding, playing with our animals, dating cute guys, and going to camp, where they met still more friends. But I did not feel part of this youthful euphoria. I remember lying awake at night, counting the days in an average life span, just to get some measure of how long I'd have to endure this isolation. We lived in a very small town where no buses, trains, or taxis stopped. I often wished I could run down to the end of our road and signal a bus to stop and take me anywhere else.

My way out was the violin, which transported me from this social and rural isolation to a glorious world where I could be ...