Music has played a very important role in my life. And I think music is one of the most beautiful things out there. And the world is in desperate need of beauty. With the decline of music, Edge teachers and music programs around the nation, I thought it'd be a perfect time you know to start teaching music to try to save some of the music programs, especially in rural Nebraska.
One of the ways that Wayne State has hired me for being a future music teacher is the Wayne State Music Academy, which is where locals, children and also adults, come and take piano lessons from the music education students. And so one thing that I realized is while I understood music personally, I didn't know it well enough to teach it. And so instead of you know, figuring out when I started teaching, you know, giving one-on-one lessons is really helped me to explain simple things such as rhythm, beat, melody, things that you know, are like secondhand to me. Well, I had to explain that to a six-year-old who was learning how to play piano, it completely opened up my eyes into what it meant to be a music teacher, instead of just someone who played music.
I received scholarships from all around the state for this one, I also want to offer me the most money so that way I wasn't in debt. when I graduated. Additionally, Wayne State offers if you do really well in high school, you know, academically they offer phenomenal financial aid packages that, you know, for me covers all of my tuition. I visited other music departments you know during my scholarship auditions, and this was the one where I can truly tell that the professors cared about me as an individual and not just adding another number to their band or choir. In here, everything's on the first floor with massive windows, natural lighting, now soundproof everywhere. And the practice rooms are phenomenal and they have weighted doors so that we no sound is escaping. And I'm so excited for the year to start.
Outside of music, you know, there's a lot there's lots to do at Wayne State. We have-- there are many clubs, I'm involved in one of them being the Newman Center, because I'm in charge of all music for that. And so it's really nice, you know, take something I'm learning in the classroom, and then go to an organization that I'm a part of, and, you know, really test the skills that I'm learning so that we get you know, a headstart you know, in high school I was always told that, "Your college professors aren't going to care about you need to get your life figured out." I'm not saying that you know, I don't have my life figured out but the professors especially in the music department are really invested in making sure they feel a part of this family and you know, that they brought you here for a reason that they want you to know that.
