Vaifanua reflects about American Idol

When Taylor Vaifanua auditioned for "American Idol" in Salt Lake City last

summer, judge Randy Jackson said he was impressed with her natural

potential.

"I think it's one of the best vocals I've heard since we've been doing this

Season 8," Jackson said.

Vaifanua reached the top 36 contestants before being eliminated. But this

17-year-old counts the opportunity as a wonderful blessing.

"It was definitely an awesome experience," Vaifanua said. "I mean, I didn't

want it to end, but it did. All around I would say it was the best experience

that I've had so far in my life."

And she has had some really good experiences in the past few years.

She released her first CD when she was 13, was a backup dancer in "High

School Musical 2" and was featured on the TV show "Create the Group."

Coming from the town of Hurricane, Vaifanua said it was pretty humbling to be

on "American Idol," but she wasn't intimidated to perform in front of the judges

or the millions of viewers.

"I was kind of excited to get up there and sing for them because it's a

once-in-a-lifetime chance; no one ever gets to do that," Vaifanua said. "I

definitely looked at it as more excited than nervous or intimidated."

Though the performances were a lot of fun, she said her favorite part was

getting to know the other contestants.

"I expected to go and (have) it be a competition where everyone is in it for

themselves and nobody cares about everyone else, but everyone was so supportive

of everyone and helped us in any way they could," Vaifanua said.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vaifanua said