Why college? Why Converse? Why Music?

I have been asked three questions. “1.) Why did you decide to go to college? 2.) Why did you decide to come specifically to Converse? and 3.) What could possibly be possessing you to make you decide to study music? Oh, and let's throw in a fourth question, just for kicks: 4.) If you woke up tomorrow and couldn't do any kind of music anymore, what would you do instead?”

I hope nobody minds that I answer these questions in logical order rather than the given order.

I am a member of a family that values a college education. Since my mother has a master’s degree and my father is a Ph. D., my parents assumed that their children would go to college. They at least partially instilled in me and my brother the values of Learning and Trying Hard, deciding to home-school my brother and I to this end. Because my father had direct oversight and control of my education, if an assignment was not getting done he could tell whether I was slacking or rather just could not grasp the concept. In other words, I would only not go to college if either I clearly could not handle college, if I chose a career in which a college education was not an advantage, or if I myself did not want to go to college. I and my family want me to go to college for further learning and education, for better personal preparation for the “real world”, and for the joy of it.

In my high school years, I continued to study piano and to train in my regional children’s chorus. I discovered that not only did I enjoy music, but also that I had some talent for it. As I began the college search process and asked myself what field I would most likely major in, music was the obvious answer. My parents and I know there are jobs in music education, as private teachers, and as church musicians, so I have some reassurance of a way to earn my living. I can study what I want to study – music – without becoming entirely bankrupt.

During my college search process, I looked for certain characteristics when I investigated a college. Academically, it needed to strive for academic excellence, be a liberal arts school, and have a strong music program. Specifically, its music program needed an excellent piano professor; a choral program, because I enjoy choir and could decide to become a choral director; and an organ program, since I had started taking organ lessons and wanted to continue my study of organ. I also wanted the college to be friendly, hard-working, and, hopefully, Christian. On top of all these requirements, the college had to be small, because, as a homeschooled child, I was used to a class size of two. These requirements and preferences were demanding, but I was willing to go to a college far away from my home in New Jersey.

The summer betwixt my junior and senior years of high school, my family and I visited our North Carolina relatives on our way to our summer vacation and a look at Furman University. My relatives knew I was looking for a good, small school with an excellent music program, so on their suggestion, we also visited Converse College while we were in the area. Furman failed to impress me – it had too much football, among other reasons – but Converse did. Everyone was so nice. When I flew back by myself last winter for my audition, a couple sophomores hosted me in their room and introduced me to their friends, so I was able to get to know the Converse students better. When Dr. Weeks and Dr. Couch each gave me a piano and an organ lesson, respectively, their lessons were excellent. So when I had to decide which college I wanted to go to, Converse College shared first place with St. Olaf College, which was even further away in Minnesota. This decision was difficult, but Converse was much less expensive , so Converse won. Now that I am studying at Converse College, I am very happy with it.

Music is a major component of my life, but if I could not do music, I would probably be a mathematician. My father has a doctorate in mathematics, so he has given me a few research-style problems which I have found frustrating. I like teaching, so I would probably teach mathematics in a school. It seems odd that I am not currently taking any mathematics courses this semester. However, I know my father has a new math course waiting for me when I come home for Christmas. Then I will also accompany my violinist brother and tell them what a good choice Converse was.