3. Taking My Education Seriously: Maintaining An Academic Interest Outside of Class

In the midst of classes and everything else that goes on during a normal semester of my college education, I have found time to pursue things that I have a great academic passion for. These things are necessary for my survival--I make time for them because I need them, not because I want to do them. The things I'm referring to are both musical in nature: singing/performing and composing. This year I created opportunities for myself to use these interests, sometimes sharing them with the larger student body.

Performance:

• Singing at Monday Night Live, Fall Kickoff, and Spring Kickoff

• Organizing and Performing in my Own Hour After, a small concert held in NC17
  

Composition:

• Arranging a string version of a pop song for Spring Kickoff

• Transcribing a song for two friends and myself to sing for fun
• Transcribing music for my Hour After
• Composing by commission (for community members, for senior recitals, etc.)

In addition to musical interests, I was also able to participate in theater as a secondary interest:

• Performing in "The Saint Plays" during Fall Semester

• Doing makeup design and hair/makeup crew for "The Gondoliers" during Spring Semester

It's important for me to maintain these interests, even if it makes my life a little more stressful. I think these interests will help me in my future career--experience is a great teacher! I hope to direct school musicals and theater productions and to encourage students in all their performance pursuits. By the end of my college career, I will have a wide repertoire of music/theater experiences to draw from.