Susan Boyle takes second place in Britain’s Got Talent
The first time I saw and heard Susan Boyle I became a fan for all of the obvious reasons. I was not alone. There have been more than 200 million viewers on YouTube!
Even on this side of the pond I received countless emails from new fans of Susan declaring, “Woman’s dreams come true!” “An example of why we are never too old to realize our dreams.” “Ugly duckling turns into swan.” “Never give up your dreams.” I joined the shouting, “You go girl—and show them your talent. Be who you are. Sing. Just sing.”
We now know that the sudden fame and adulation of a formerly stay-at-home adult who ventured out to volunteer at her local church where she sang in the choir— might have had unexpected consequences. Has Susan temporarily forgotten how to be who she is…or was?
We have learned that Susan’s birth was a difficult one and that as a result she suffers from learning disabilities. She was bullied in school and cruelly called “Susie Simple,” according to the Daily Mail/News International.(1) Yet throughout her life Susan Boyle has been a singer—for family and small audiences, while her mother encouraged her daughter to find a larger stage upon which to share her amazing gift of song. We have learned that Susan sought center stage in remembrance of her mother.
As one of the spectators who watched the less than beautiful talent show participant beautifully sing her heart out—not once, but twice on Britain’s Got Talent—I feel a little guilty that I did not notice that maybe the shy songbird was living out a dream that was not of her own making.
In my career counseling practice, I work with people to uncover, discover and realize their dreams. Some have carried around their dreams for many years, while others discovered them along the way. It is unbelievably gratifying to hear a client say, “Wow. This is it. This is what I love doing.” “They” say that Susan Boyle has always enjoyed singing and I do not doubt that…I only wonder if the stage she stood upon – apparently to honor her deceased mother’s wishes-was part of Susan’s dreams?
We must be careful in the pursuit of our dreams—first making sure that they belong to us.
According to the press (CBS News, June 5, 2009), “Susan Boyle has left a London clinic where she was being treated for exhaustion and is “much happier” now, her brother Gerry Boyle said Friday.”
Let’s hope that this is true.