Oh, Freshman Year...

   Hey y’all! I just want to say, WELCOME TO CONVERSE, LADIES!! Okay, now you can say you’ve officially heard those words 20,000 times. But seriously- I’m here to help you navigate college life: combating stress, dealing with music theory, and simply enjoying the small things.
   First, make friends. I was a loner in high school- the one who sat at the lunch table, alone, and read. I figured college would be no different. Boy, was I wrong. As soon as I got here I was instantly bombarded with people wanting to talk. It brought me out of my shell, and as much as I hated it, I needed it. The greatest challenge I faced my freshman year was my Music Theory class. I came from a high school that if you weren’t on the football team you did not exist. Music was not a primary focus, in terms of chorus. We had no AP Music Theory class, and the Choral department barely had enough funds to put on a concert at the end of the year. (Yet the football team gets personalized mouthpieces and a jumbo-tron. Does something seem off to you guys?) I came to college knowing absolutely nothing about music theory other than what I’d already forgotten from my piano lessons. I had to start from scratch and try and teach myself the theory everyone else knew just to keep up. It took a lot out of me, and I failed the occasional quiz or homework assignment. I got very discouraged and had countless tear-filled phone calls with my mother about the GPA you have to maintain to keep a scholarship. However, I soon found I didn’t have to do it alone. I could get together with friends in the Williams lobby, and while yes, we often got very distracted, I learned a lot from them: the same peers I tried so hard to keep away from.
 Time management is also a huge aspect of college success so keep a planner and stay organized. I’m not saying you have to keep an anal minute by minute diary, 8:00 wake up, 8:03 brush teeth, etc., etc, but do keep a basic outline of when your classes are, when your practice times are, and when need to work, sleep, eat and study. It really helped me to stay focused and on top of things. I actually kept two planners, one for day to day activities and times, and one for the assignments I planned to get done each day.
   Lastly, have fun. Keeping yourself relatively sane is hard I love what I do. I contemplated changing my major to psychology with a minor in philosophy and dropping music all together. I figured I wasn’t good enough at it to even continue trying. The words of many stuck in my head though. I was told over and over not to give up when I feel as if I’m being pushed to my limit. Music has always been my life, and I knew deep down there was nothing more I’d rather do with it. Yes, psychology and philosophy are truly fascinating but they are not my passion. I encourage those of you in this room that I know are contemplating the same exact thing to not give up. College is supposed to be the greatest time of your life. Otherwise, they wouldn’t make so many movies about it. Yes, stress a little about the things that truly matter, but do not let your mind get the best of you. Try to be too overwhelmed, otherwise you cannot enjoy this time of learning and experiencing new things. The occasional trip to Twisty’s or Starbucks with a few friends, or going to a community event is what makes college so memorable. Spending the small breaks of time with the people who will eventually become like family to you is why they stick with you for the rest of your life. College will ultimately be what you make of it, so make it the best it can be.