I was unsure about a lot of things when I first started college: classes, friends, social life. But something that always remained statics was keeping music a dominant aspect of my life.
Since a young age, I’ve been involved and obsessed with music. Playing piano, viola and singing in choir, were unquestionably a large part of standard classes and activities that had to be in my schedule, and for me, being involved with music was my “thing.” Music is a huge of part of who I am and something I never want to let go of.
And then, freshman year registration happened, and I had to start asking myself the hard questions: Singing in a choir as a class, or singing in a cappella group? Will orchestra fit in my schedule? Can I even make time to practice piano? Will I be able to keep up with the level of music even if I’m a non-music major?
With so many amazing opportunities to get involved it was now on ME to decided who I wanted to be on campus from a music perspective.
I had come to college for a reason, and that was to make sure I could get the education I wanted to pursue my career goals of working in the health field. I had to make sure that I prioritized those classes that would help me get to my goal. As someone who has a hard time saying “no,” I was torn, because I knew that I couldn’t do everything like I had once been able to.
Luckily, I was able to fit choir into my schedule. And making sure I had time for at least on musical activity was one of the best decisions I have made.
When all of my classes are stressing me out, choir is there to relax me. I go, I sing, I laugh and I feel so much better. There’s no competition with other students, and, no curve to beat. Just singing. Just being there for fun. Just being there in the moment.
Everyone has an outlet, and music is mine. It’s something that lets me show off a side of me that I don’t normally get to show off in say my Chemistry class. Not the nerdy side who loves science, or the side where I love getting to know people and volunteering in my community. It’s my side where I can escape and get absorbed in the music.
College, as it has been presented to us hundreds of times, is a place where we are supposed to prepare our selves for life in the real world. It’s easy to become so focused on developing our professional selves that we lose our passions. As I grow up, I’ve realized that I don’t want to be one of those people who ends up missing something I love. With that, I hope that I’ll never have to “cut out” music from my life. I’m so grateful for all of the wonderful people I met who have become great friends and who’ve inspired me to grow as a person and a musician. As I continue on in college, I still hope that I can delve further with my musical activities and stay involved with music in any way that I can.
