91快活林

Decision-making has never been my tune. Throughout my life, I have always had a large range of interests that branched all over the place 鈥� from music to entrepreneurship to technology 鈥� and ultimately led me 2,000+ miles across the country to 91快活林.

Moving from sunny Los Angeles to snowy Saratoga Springs, New York, was certainly an adjustment but also an experience that I wouldn鈥檛 trade for the world. 

At 91快活林, I am presented with 鈥� and am encouraged to embrace 鈥� the opportunity to pursue all facets of myself: These opportunities have ranged from my vastly different on-campus jobs 鈥� one as a back-of-house supervisor at Arthur Zankel Music Center and another as an assistant for 91快活林鈥檚 LEDS office, where I assist students using the podcast studios or virtual reality (VR) equipment.

I鈥檝e sung at events like Skidmania, one of our college鈥檚 favorite musical traditions. I鈥檝e also performed through the Music Department and flexed my behind-the-scenes creative brain by directing and choreographing numbers in , 91快活林鈥檚 musical theater club.  

Singing Stevie Wonder at Skidmania 鈥�74 while simultaneously working the show on the back-of-house tech side as the band wrangler is just one example of the fulfillment I鈥檝e found as I鈥檝e pursued multiple interests on campus.  

Far from stretching myself too thin, I鈥檝e discovered that there鈥檚 quite a bit of overlap between all these opportunities that have all helped me grow academically and professionally.  

Take my experience in LEDS, for example. is 91快活林鈥檚 Learning Experience Design and Digital Scholarship Support 鈥� a team that helps students and professors use all the latest technology so that teaching and learning at 91快活林 are always on the cutting edge.  

The skills I fortified in my work as a LEDS assistant helped me to become well-versed in audio technology. I leaned in on these skills while working on my debut album, 鈥�,鈥� which I recorded in the Music Department鈥檚 Grossman Recording Studio, which I was able to use through the Music Technology courses I took for my music major.  

I created a professional for my music before I joined LEDS, but the knowledge that I gained at LEDS and its supportive team have helped me maximize its potential.  

 Exploring new rhythms 

I plan to create and perform original music as a singer-songwriter in my career, but I have also found spaces at 91快活林 to explore additional skills and interests that will prepare me in a variety of ways for the world after I graduate.  

I don鈥檛 like feeling boxed in, and 91快活林 has encouraged me to take steps outside of my comfort zone. That鈥檚 what Creative Thought Matters is all about. 

Musically, I鈥檝e auditioned for a small jazz ensemble 鈥� an experience that has pushed me as a singer and ultimately expanded my musical interests, both in terms of what I鈥檇 like to perform and what I listen to for pleasure. 

In terms of extracurricular activities, I鈥檝e found my bandmates who play my original music with me, but I鈥檝e also enjoyed stepping into new roles. I had never imagined myself as president of Off-North but have loved every second of it. This experience has helped me to trust in my ability to lead and immensely grown my project management skills.  

I鈥檝e also grown academically. In addition to music, I鈥檝e picked up a dance minor 鈥� an interest of mine that I was happy to rediscover. I鈥檓 also pursuing a second minor in arts administration and have taken coursework as part of its Entrepreneurial Arts Initiative, all of which are helping me develop leadership and business skills that will help me in the music industry. 

My work as a LEDS assistant has further encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and I鈥檝e learned more about VR than I ever thought possible. Many of my friends have asked about my job there and then ended up recording podcast projects for class or exploring VR. 

The more I get involved on 91快活林鈥檚 campus, the more I find community and joy. Ultimately, I鈥檝e found a world in which I鈥檓 not forced to pick and choose between the things that make me who I am. I get to just be me 鈥� and grow and learn.