Before I came to Converse, I
thought I had my whole life planned out. I was going to go to Furman
University, get a degree in Music Education, and go on to teach high school
chorus. Throughout high school, I thought singing was my real talent and French
Horn was only a hobby. By my senior year, however, when I really started
practicing and caring, I felt like I actually had some talent on my horn. I
started questioning my choice to be a chorus teacher; maybe I wanted to be a
band director. I might have been confused about my career goal, but at least I
knew where I was going to school, right? Wrong. Even with the generous amount
of money I was given, I still couldn’t really afford Furman, but did I even
want to go there anymore?
I went
to an accepted student day at Furman and Converse. The people at Furman were
very stand-offish and cold (not the music faculty, but everyone else). After
devoting so much time to Furman, I was crushed that I couldn’t see it as my
home. I went to the accepted student day at Converse and my experience was the
exact opposite. All the people I met were incredibly nice (faculty and
students). I remember walking across the quad and realizing that this was going
to be my new home.
When I
finally got here, I was so excited. I knew I was going to fit in really well. I
met my roommate and we instantly clicked. I met the other girls on my hall and
they were all great. I knew I wanted to do music education and I was told that
I could make both my instruments my primary instrument and I could decide later
what I wanted to do. The only thing I was really sure of at that point was that
I wanted to teach high school.
In the
time that I’ve been here, I haven’t decided on an instrument and I’ve decided
that I want to teach elementary school music class. I think I would be really
good with little kids and I know they would be a blast to work with. I have
also made so many amazing friends while I’ve been here. Some of them I even
consider to be my new family. Although I have my Converse family, I’m still
very close to my real family. Caroline, my sister, and I have been ridiculously
close since we were little. Even though it’s hard on both of us with me being
away, we still go on sister dates and have a really close bond. She is my best
friend.
As for
the future, I’m not really sure where life is going to take me. I know I will
be doing something with music. I want to enjoy my job and I want to influence someone’s
life. Most of all, though, I want a tight-knit family just like my own. That is
probably the one thing that I want the most.
For you
who are reading this, thank you for being an amazing person. I know you will do
incredible things.
