This is a great thread.

All my life I have wanted to sing. From the time I was a little kid. Even though I got the piano lessons, a guitar for my 8th birthday, the support for my singing was never really there from my parents.

I floundered through part-time singing for 20 years, singing in bands here and there, but never really having the confidence to really go out there and try it.

I was a junior high school mathematics teacher for 11 years. I loved the kids, had excellent insurance bennies, good slary, worked 11 hour days, 7 days a week. It amazed me how much of myself I gave for the good of the kids, without realising that I was slowly killing myself. As the years went on, I was growing increasingly more restless, but was really not sure as to why.

Beginning in the summer of 1995, I began traveling to the UK. I found folk clubs everywhere wher I could sing in a floor spot. When I got Edinburgh, people in the pubs would spontaneously break into song and I would usually join in. I seemed to be singing more when I went to the UK (and always being asked to sing) while I was there.

In 1997, I took a leave from my teaching job and went to Edinburgh. I was very fortunate to have friends like Cathal McConnell help me find a place to stay, and work. I ran the session in Sandy Bell's on Monday nights from July through November 1997 and received a lot of encouragement from other musicians.

In 1998, I decided to leave teaching for good. I moved to the Northeastern US and I am now a full-time musician. It is difficult and it takes a lot of hard work to do the business side of things, but I am learning and persevering.

I am happier than I ever have been before and even though I do not regret my days as a public school teacher, I now know that I am a singer, first and foremost. Money does not matter, as long as I have enough to keep food, clothes and a roof within my grasp.

I must say, also, that without the love and support of my partner, I would not be able to have accomplished what I have accomplished in just three years.

I tried to keep this short, and this is by no means the whole story.

Debra Cowan Taking a vow of poverty to spread the gospel of traditional music