A grand piano sits in a room. The room is not a concert hall, nor a recital. There is no audience waiting expectantly for the curtain to rise, nor teary parent, nor eager friends. In fact, this is just a regular meeting — one that happens once every week at an organization called Global Youth Philanthropy, which hosts concerts to raise money with the goal of helping children in third-world countries. But for freshman Sean Constable, these moments, and others like it, are more than just concerts. These are the moments where he regains his passion for piano — a flame that sputtered out, rekindled.

“We were just practicing our pieces,” Constable said. “But it gave me the motivation to keep playing piano.”

After all, Constable had been playing piano for about ten years, but in those ten years, his hobby had never felt like it had much of a purpose. Instead, it was a chore. However, that all changed when he joined GYP. Through their music programs, GYP gives their members a viewpoint beyond just Silicon Valley.

“I only recently joined the organization, but I’m glad I made the decision because I really enjoy it, and I have a purpose,” Constable said. “It also taught me how to be more confident.” 

Now, as Constable looks back on his piano journey, he can’t deny that Global Youth Philanthropy played a big part in how he views the activity.  

“In piano, you try different styles; you try new pieces,” Constable said. “But most of all, you never really stop learning.”