Narrative

John Dewey once quoted, “To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness” (BrainyQuotes, 2013). My joy has always come from finding a balance between creating music and writing that reflects the ever-changing life experience, and using my skills to help others accomplish their pursuits and further their knowledge. I earned my Associate’s Degree in Music from Fullerton College in California and upon acceptance into Oakland University’s Bachelor of Integrative Studies program, I created and enrolled in the major, Writing for Songs, Stories, and Services. Completing my undergraduate education at Oakland University offered me a unique opportunity to study modern music writing, creative writing, and professional academic and business writing through their Bachelor of Integrative Studies. The Bachelor of Integrative Studies enabled me to utilize the resources of varying disciplines to understand how to potentially solve complex problems, create innovative products, and / or provide informative responses that have practical guidelines for future work in a business. My own happiness still arises from harmonizing music, writing, and serving others. Using all three of these practices within my present and future work is ultimately what brings the best outcome for those I am working for and myself.

Two of the current writing projects I am working on are Adults Continuing Education in the Writing Center and Popular Music’s Influence on Adolescents: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Psychology and Music. The first essay began as a two person - one of my co-workers at Oakland University’s Writing Center and myself - summer research project. The essay is intended to address the challenges, strengths, and strategies that are involved when working with adults who are continuing their education and wish to gain assistance within writing centers across the U.S. This piece is in the beginning stages of being prepared to be submitted to writing center journals throughout the country. The second piece is intended to give readers a thorough understanding of how elements of music have a negatively addictive nature for some vulnerable adolescents, which can potentially impair them emotionally. In contrast to the first essay, the second piece is still in the research process and developmental stages.

My future goals and plans consist of applying to graduate schools to study composition, rhetoric, language, and literacy; I would like to ultimately be a professor of composition. In between graduate school or while attending graduate school, it would be my pleasure work for an innovative company or to teach basic academic writing, creative writing, and / or songwriting courses at an educational institution. As is always my goal, throughout my educational pursuits and career endeavors, I would like to balance my passion of working with others with songwriting, recording and performing my own pieces, as well as publishing my creative writing.

Reference

BrainyQuote. (2013). Work quotes. Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_work.html