As I sat down to write my second article for Odyssey, I kept thinking of really deep topics to write on. I found that I personally was not ready to write about these topics, much less share them with the internet. So Internet, stay tuned in and while you wait, here's a peek into my life.
As the countdown continues until my arrival on campus, my thoughts are consumed with trying to figure out how I will spend my next four years at Emory. My current plan (and one of the main reasons I chose to attend Emory) is to double major in Biology and Music Performance on the pre-med track. And before you say anything, yes I know how difficult this will be and I am ready.
Like many incoming college freshmen, I have received much-unsolicited college advice. Comments ranging from "those are both very demanding majors" to "if you could be a doctor, why would you also want to be a music major?"
The only explanation I have for all of this is that I can not imagine my life without continuing to learn about both science and music. I have found a place that allows me to pursue both of these loves as in-depth as I want to. I found a place that encourages students with similar stories to continue their passions. I will be supported and I will not be alone in my pursuit.
I find that many people do not realize the deep correlation between music and medicine. I do not feel that I have it all figured out, but I love learning as much as I can about the correlation, especially with neurology. I have been reading this book that my choir director gave to me "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain" by Oliver Sacks. The whole book is about how the brain works when musicians are studying music and playing. For you nerds out there, I highly recommend it.
Another one of my favorite resources is a TED Talk by violinist Robert Gupta. Music involves the entire brain and there are very few other activities that will work your brain in this way. Musicians are often better problem solvers, pattern seekers, and detail oriented thinkers. I don't know about you, but I sure feel like these are excellent qualities to have in a doctor.
(Go to the link for the gif in you are interested... it is another one of my favorite TED videos).
I am still trying to figure all of this out. I know that I am supposed to be continuing this path for a specific reason. Maybe it is to continue research in combined music and neurology. Who knows?
Yes, I know this will be difficult. Yes, I know that my plans might change and I am OK with that, but I am also stubborn and tend to stick to my plans until the end. I will be that student sitting in the practice rooms going back and forth between practicing my Mozart and Schumann pieces and studying for my next biochemistry test.
This is my main instrument, the oboe. One of my majors will be music performance on oboe. For those curious, the music in the background is the Mozart Oboe Concerto... it is a work in progress.
