Choosing Mount Union
I learned about Mount Union because my older sister, Gabrielle '22, also applied here during the college search process and ended up choosing to attend. I then had the opportunity to visit campus a couple of times, and after meeting the music faculty and getting a sense of the "homey" feel of Mount Union, I was very excited to make the decision to attend as well! I received the Presidential Scholarship for a full tuition ride to attend Mount Union. I went through an essay and interview process during my senior of high school, and I was absolutely thrilled to receive such an honor! The first piece of advice I would give to someone choosing their college, and probably the most important, is to make sure to visit campus. Whether it is getting a tour or sitting in on a class you might eventually take, it is essential to get a feel for the environment. While a place may sound amazing on paper or in all of your online research, you never know how you actually will feel until you have spent time at the school yourself. Also, try to pick schools that have strong programs in multiple subject areas that interest you. Many students end up switching their majors during their time at college, and that is totally acceptable! However, it's important that you are able to switch degree tracks without having completely change schools.
Why Music Education?
I chose music education as my major for multiple reasons. I come from a very musical family, and I have been around music for all of my life. It truly has become my passion; often nothing brings me more joy than singing. I also had many teachers and mentors throughout my life that have inspired me to love music, work hard to improve my musical abilities, and grow this passion within me to share my talent. I chose the music education track specifically because I want to be able to ignite this passion within students of future generations, and I hope to be an inspiration for many of them as my teachers were for me.
Experiential Learning
I look forward to having hands-on opportunities in the future, when we have finally made it through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as a music education major, I have been able to begin taking instrumental methods classes, and my peers and I have actually been playing brass instruments in class, twice a week. I am really thankful for the chance to have this kind of hands-on learning, because simply reading about each instrument is not nearly the same as being able to learn to play! There is no doubt in my mind that the Integrative Core at Mount Union will make me a more rounded person by the time I get to the professional level. I am absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this program because I recognize the necessity of learning about the humanities, arts, and sciences. Instead of just taking algebra or physics to fulfill a general education credit, at Mount Union we are able to take classes that teach us about human thought, understanding, and expression. These classes help us better understand ourselves, other people, and the world around us. This applies to our work environment too! I will feel confident when interacting with others in my field and be able to utilize my knowledge from my many classes outside of my music major track to understand situations in life that I will have to deal with.
Plans for the Future
My ultimate career goal is to be a choir director at a high school or college and be able to inspire and share my deep passion for music with my students, hopefully making some kind of difference in their lives. Mount Union is definitely setting me up for success. Not only am I provided the necessary resources, including a beautiful music facility, a very knowledgeable and talented music faculty, and a wide variety of music classes, but the degree track is also specifically designed to get me hands on experience! In my final semester, I will have the chance to be a student-teacher every day in a classroom! I am also gaining experience as part of an ensemble through participation in choirs, bands, and theatre productions. I am so grateful for the music program, the Integrative Core program, the Honors Program, and everything else that Mount Union is providing to set me up for success!