Reflecting on the past, present, and future...

Let me start out by saying that this was one of the most exciting and thought provoking projects I have ever done! I got to be as creative as I wanted and I got to explore my own life and really think about who I am. I didn’t have any trouble deciding on what to do for this project. As soon as I started thinking about what to do I knew that I would do a video scrapbook. This summer my dad and I spent a lot of time putting together videos with the flip camera. I really enjoy working with technology and I also love making music videos.
The storyboard for this project kind of just fell into place. There are three distinct sections to the video. The first answering the question, “Who was Megan before college?” I chose to pick very significant events that happened in my life before college. For example, I chose prom, Seniors ARE special, my senior recital, Furman recitals, and SOAP to represent who I was before college. I spent most of my high school career trying to figure out who I was. I never really had a steady group of friends until my senior year. I finally thought that I had found my clique my senior year, but then it was time to graduate and we all went our separate ways. All of those events that are shown in the video impacted my life in very big ways. Each occasion helped to shape me in its own kind of way. Family, friends, my church, recitals, and SOAP have all shaped me into the young woman that I am today. This first section of the video goes by faster than the other two parts because it is in the past. I am now looking forward into my future and I do not want to look to the past.
The second section answers the question, “How has Megan changed since Converse?” This section is all about my new experiences. It includes things like a new instrument, new friends, activities, new home, and “new traditions.” Pictures from 1889, powderpuff, College Fest represent new experiences and traditions and pictures of my room, roommate, and new friends represent my life right now. There is also a clip from the CBS National news in this section. After the powderpuff game, my family and I went to the Beacon and CBS was filming that day we went! It was so exciting!
The third section is filled with question marks. It does not answer just one question, but poses many questions. I chose to do this section this way because as a freshman in college, I do not really know what my future looks like. I know that it will definitely be something in the music field but I do not know if I want to be an elementary school teacher, a choral director, or go to graduate school. I chose to put a clip of an elementary school class in this section because I would absolutely love to teach elementary school children! The second clip in this section is of PS22 in New York. I find this elementary school chorus one of most inspiring things I have ever seen! I want to be like Gregg Breinberg! The way he has shared his passion of music with PS22 is amazing. I have followed this school since they first went on Facebook and I hope to one day model my elementary school classes after what this director has done with his chorus.
I chose the song Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammer because the whole song talks about when you get overwhelmed and feel like you cannot make it any longer, you just have to remember to keep your head up and keep looking forward because things will get better! I find this song very inspiring. AND I met Andy Grammer at College Fest which makes me love his music even more!

Revamp 1889!

The history and traditions of Converse College are some of the main reasons I am here. I love how historic our school is and I found it so intriguing to learn more about her history yesterday. Even though some of the traditions here may seem kind of weird, I still think that they are what make the school. My favorite tradition that I have had the privilege of participating in thus far would have to be Big Sis/ Little Sis week. I love how that week brought two classes together and new friendships were formed! Another one of my favorite traditions was taking the class picture in the fountain on move-in day! That really made me feel at home Converse and I believe it started the year off with a bang!
After Big Sis/ Lil Sis week and the fountain in the picture I was really anticipating 1889 week to be a lot more fun than it turned out to be. I am sad to say that I was a little disappointed with the week. I was expecting the week to be packed full with activities, spirit, and games but I never really saw any of that. I participated in the skit and dance, I played powder-puff, and I went to the dance. Those were fun, but the week itself was not that exciting. The penny and canned food drive turned out well, but I think there is a better way to raise the money and cans for that. If I could, I would revamp the tradition of 1889 and bring out the spirit!
The first thing I would do to revamp 1889 week would be to assign each day a theme. Purple Friday was awesome, but what if every day had a different theme? Monday would be wacky tacky day and everyone would wear crazy colors and dress in their tackiest clothes. Tuesday would be twin day; this means everyone would dress up with someone and have a twin for the day. Superhero day would be on Wednesday, everyone would dress up as their favorite superheroes. Thursday would be tacky holiday sweater day, and of course Friday would be purple day! I think each day having a different theme would take 1889 week to a whole different level! Also, don’t you think that theme days would make for great memories and even better pictures?
Another way I would revamp 1889 is to have different activities to raise money or cans. To collect cans, we could have a pie-in-the-face competition. Each class would compete against each other to throw pies at targets. To participate in this activity you would have to give one can. This is a fun activity and a great way to collect cans. Another activity would be a team building games on the quad. Each class could compete against each other in different games and to participate in these games you would have to pay one dollar in change to your classes bucket or you could pay one dollar in bills to a different class bucket. There would be a different activity every day either during lunch or during dinner! I think that would be really fun and it would bring out more competition between the classes.
I really wish I had the opportunity to help out with the next 1889 week. I don’t think it was all that terrible, but I think there are a few ways to make it so much better and bring out that awesome Converse spirit! I think the competition between the classes is exciting and the revamp to 1889 would just bring out that competition a little bit more.

Dream Career

Up until my senior year in high school I had always wanted to be a high school choral director at a fine arts high school. I thought that is what I had my heart set on and I believed that my mind would never change. I was very content with being a choral director because I was not really aware of all of the possibilities in music besides a chorus teacher. Doing something other than music has never been an option for me because music is my heart and I love it way too much. My senior year in high school I had the privilege of being a Teacher Cadet. The first semester we learned a lot about how to be a teacher, how to handle a classroom, and I also learned a lot about me. The second semester we had the opportunity to actually student teach in our own classroom. Being from Easley, I did not have many options with choosing a music class to student teach in. I was not allowed to teach in the same high school chorus that I was in, and I knew that I did not want to teach middle school. I ended going to an elementary school that was near my high school. I got to student teach 5th grade music at West End Elementary School and it was probably the best experience I have ever had. The music teacher is young and fairly new to teaching but she was very welcoming to me. I started out just observing for a couple of weeks and then the teacher let me teach some lessons and eventually I was able to teach entire classes. I absolutely loved teaching the children! It was somewhat like a rollercoaster as I was in the process of teaching because I had to learn the hard way that every teacher has their good days and sometimes they have days that just don’t go as planned.

Now that I am in college and I think back on the experience I had at West End, I have my heart set on being an elementary school teacher. I love children and I would absolutely love to be able to teach them music. And plus, don’t you remember your elementary music teacher?  I am not sure geographically where I want to teach, but I do know that I am probably going to stay away from the very small town of Easley, SC. I would love to teach in a bigger town but not big like New York City. Honestly, once I finish school and begin looking for a job, my goal is going to be just to find one. I would love to move up north a little bit and teach at a majority middle class school.

I want to teach elementary music so I would be teaching typically kindergarten through 5th grade. Since all students take music, it is very exciting to think that I would get to know every student in the school! The advantage of this life is the fact that I would be able to get up every morning and teach something I love to children! I cannot wait to be able to express my passion to students in a fun and exciting way and maybe I will inspire them to become musicians or at least to have an appreciation for music. Also an advantage is that I would be doing something that I love and it wouldn’t matter where I was or who I was with. If I love what I am doing, I am going to be happy.

A problem with this dream is that I will not be making that much money. Teachers do not make a lot of money so you really have to love what you are doing. I think that I will make enough to live but I know that I will not be able to live in my dream house or drive my dream car right off the bat. I am not really worried about money because I will be doing what I love.
To prepare for my dream career, I am taking music classes and I am majoring in music education. This Jan. Term I am hoping to take Introduction to Music Education. This class is also one of the reasons I am at Converse. I had the opportunity to sit in on that class when I came for an overnight and I had a blast in the class and that is why I cannot wait to take it! This summer I really want to get involved with summer music camps. I have a friend who taught at the summer camp here this past summer, so I am hoping she can help me with getting involved with that. Also, this summer I would really like to start teaching piano lessons. Last year, I was a teacher assistant in the Piano I and II class at my high school and I really learned a lot about teaching piano. I want to start teaching and getting involved with teaching students as soon as possible so I can learn as much as I can before I actually go into the classroom.

Music is my Passion and Stress Relief

1.       1. Since starting Converse, I have often wondered what in the world I am doing. I absolutely love playing the piano but it has been a little overwhelming lately. I feel as if I am working on the most challenging pieces I have ever played, which is both terrifying and exciting. Lately I have been having trouble working on the music in small chunks. I have just been trying to push through the entire piece because I feel like I am running out of time. Some days I just sit in the practice room and wonder what I have gotten myself into. One of the pieces that helps me get through the times when my new music has me to my wits-end is Mozart’s “Rondo Alla Turca.” Whenever I get down and out I just start playing this piece and it completely takes my mind away from whatever it is that has me down. This is one of my favorite pieces I have ever played for many reasons. I auditioned to Converse with this piece and before my audition date I had a lesson with Dr. Weeks. In my lesson, we worked really hard on this piece and I felt like I had a lot to improve on so I went home and for the next two weeks I tried my best to follow exactly what Dr. Weeks had suggested I correct. After my audition, Dr. Weeks came up to me and told me how much I had improved on the piece and how he appreciated how I had made it my own. That was a very exciting moment and I can still remember the conversation with Dr. Weeks! I chose this video because it is from my Senior Recital at Furman University. This piece was the final piece of my 30 minute recital. My Senior Recital was one of the best days of my entire life. It ended ten years of piano at Furman and symbolized a new beginning of piano at Converse!

2.      2.  Another reason I turn to music is for peace in my very chaotic life. I chose the song “Someone Life You” by Adele because it always seems to calm my nerves and help me relax. Actually, I just pulled up a bunch of Adele songs on my Itunes and told my roommate to just pick one. I absolutely love Adele. I think that she is an amazing musician and she isn’t all made up with fame and fortune like most singers these days. I think Adele’s music is very real and most of her songs I can connect to on a personal level. Her music is very soothing and relaxing. I like the fact that she doesn’t have to try and model herself after the stereotypical performer. Whenever I need to relax and chill out I always turn to Adele.

3.       3. One of my favorite hobbies is going to see bands live. I love going to venues like the Channel in Greenville, SC and hearing all of the bands play. I just like going to concerts in general. I have been to many concerts in many different genres from beach, rock, country, and even hardcore. I like to compare the different bands and I like to take in all of the different stage shows. I have learned that every band has a different stage show. Some performers like to connect with their audience more than others and some are just there to sing their music. As a performer, I find it interesting to view and compare many different performances. I chose this song and video because this was the last concert I went to. I saw Andy Grammer at College Fest in Downtown Spartanburg and ever since then I have listened to his music almost every day! I even got to meet him, take pictures with him, and get his autograph! Even though it was a very low-key and chill concert, it was one of my favorites!

"Finding Your Flock"

Hello Little Red Devils class of 2017!!

            The whole transition into college was a surprise to me. I never imagined it would feel so different than it actually did. It was not a bad experience at all; it was just completely new to me. Before I started school, I felt like I knew exactly what college was going to be like and what I was going to have to do to succeed as a college student. I quickly realized that I was wrong and was not as prepared as I thought. Something that surprised me was the fact that I was pretty much on my own. Of course you have friends and professors to help you, but you have to study, practice your instrument, get up on time, and do everything else on your own. You no longer have your parents telling you to do those things. Also, the freedom of being in college was a little bit of a surprise to me. I was not really sheltered in high school but my parents did keep track of what I did and where I was. In college, you are the only person keeping track of what you are doing, so please make wise choices. Another surprise was how the whole music school is one big family. If you are struggling in a class or just having trouble, there will always be someone there to help you. I love the closeness of the Petrie School of Music.

            The biggest challenge I had to overcome was managing my time. The first year of college I struggled to try and keep up with school, practice, get involved on campus, and have a social life. It may seem like you have no time, but the key is to just make time. I found it extremely helpful to write out a schedule and to stick to it. I am a list maker, so every day I would make a “to do” list for that day. It helped me feel more organized. Another challenge was making myself practice. Everyone knows that practicing is sometimes boring and not fun but I realized that if you just do it in small increments and set daily goals for yourself the finished product comes a lot sooner. I always hate practicing but when I actually finish a piece it makes everything worth it. I love the feeling of finishing a piece when I know that I practiced and made the most of my practice time.

            In my first two years of college I learned that life is not always easy. You are going to get overwhelmed, you are going to get sick, you are going to get in arguments with your roommate, and you are not going to want to practice, but everything will be fine! You just have to push through because it will get better! Bad times usually come in waves. I also learned how to be a better musician myself. I have learned how to make the best of my practice times and I have become a better pianist because of it. Also, I have realized that I absolutely love music theory and sight singing and I hope to one day teach theory! J

            Enjoy your time as a freshman because it goes by way too fast. My advice to you is to find your groove now. Figure out how you operate and take off from there. Make a schedule for yourself and try to get into a routine of sticking to that schedule now because when things get overwhelming you will still have somewhat of a sense of organization in your life. Also, just do it! Don’t complain about having to study or practice, just do it and get it over with and then go out and have some fun once your school work is done! Remember to manage your time wisely. As music major your time is very precious, make sure you are making good use of it!

Time Management

My life is filled with many challenges. The biggest challenge in my life would be time management. I spend way too much time on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. I always get distracted on Facebook when I am trying to do my homework. I know a simple solution to my problem would be to just not get on Facebook, but it is easier said than done. Even if I say that I am going to just “check” my Facebook, I still end up spending too much time on the social network. It is the same way with Twitter and my phone. My cell phone is a huge problem when it comes to time management. I know that when I am texting, I cannot give my piano or my homework the attention that it needs. My senior year in high school was a rude awakening for me when it came to texting. I had the opportunity to perform my own senior recital which meant that I had to practice numerous hours a day. I had to learn that if I turned my cell phone and computer off, I would get a lot more accomplished than if I had them on. Since I started college, I have fallen back into the habit of texting and getting on Facebook when I should be studying. I really need to buckle down, focus, and know that once I get my homework finished, then I can get on Facebook.

 Another time management issue for me is trying to juggle family responsibilities and a social life. College is all about finding where you belong and making new friends which is hard to do when you have tons of homework to get done. College is so different from high school. When I was in high school, I had every day organized and planned out. I pretty much did the same thing every day so it was easy to make a schedule. College is still so new and unknown that I am not sure how to organize my day yet. Unlike high school, most things are done over email which is still confusing to me because I feel unorganized when I get homework assignments at different times.

I have recently learned that if I make a list of goals then I am more likely to focus on achieving those goals rather than getting on Facebook or Twitter. I also think it is helpful if I actually plan out when I am going to practice and when I am going to do my homework. I have found that making lists really help me focus on what needs to get accomplished. My advice to others would be to not let social media be a distraction. Get everything finished that you need to get done first, and then use social media. It will be worth it in the end!

The Chocolate Factory (SSS)

                Not going to college was never an option for me. I always dreamt of going to college because I knew that in order to do anything in life I would need a college degree in my hand. I really want to make something of my life, so not getting a degree was out of the question. My parents are also the ones that have always pushed me to go to college. I was raised with the mind-set that college must come first before I will ever be able to have the job of my dreams.

                It might sound a little cliché, but not only did I choose Converse, it is more like Converse College chose me. My junior year in high school I began looking at different colleges. I always knew I wanted to study music, so my search was focused more on the school of the arts. I had heard that Converse had an excellent school of music, so I was eager to look more into the college.  As I was checking out the website, I learned that I could come and stay overnight and really get the full college experience. I was a little nervous to come and visit but I really wanted to see the school. The Converse overnight absolutely changed my life. From the moment I stepped foot on the campus, I fell in love with Converse! I really got to know the school that night. I met some amazing friends that are students here and I spent most of my time in Blackman! I knew that Converse was the place for me. Also, I later found out that my piano teacher of 10 years recently married Dr. Foy’s son. After the overnight, I visited Converse many more times and every time I set foot on the campus I just knew that I would soon be going to school here. It was a really great feeling! I am really lucky to be here! Besides, I didn’t apply anywhere else.

                I have been playing the piano and studying music for ten years. I took piano and music theory at Furman University for eight of those years and I never imagined doing anything else but music. I love every aspect of music. I love the feeling I get when I am performing and I can just express the music and think about nothing else but the music. I even love music theory! This past year in high school, I had the opportunity to assistant teach the piano I and II class and I also got to student teach 5^th grade music for a semester. That is when I knew that I really wanted to teach music. I absolutely love teaching music to others and expressing my passion with students.

                The piece of advice that I can take away from the video is that I need to enter college with an open mind. I need to explore all of the fascination and new adventures! I just always need to remember that I am going to go through some rough times but I just have to keep my head up. I need to keep my focus on my goals and try not to get side tracked. I have to remember that all of my hard work will pay off!