“Music is more than just a mere pastime for me, it’s something that comes naturally – almost as if it’s in my DNA. Singing and songwriting have always been an integral part of my life, something that I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember. I’ve been playing the piano for over a decade now, and I even started composing my own music back in high school. Music just clicks for me, and I’m inherently drawn to it. I’ve never had to force myself to do anything related to music because it’s simply a part of who I am.

My love for music is deeply rooted in my family. Both of my parents are pastors and have recently started their own church. My dad is a guitarist, while my mom is a worship pastor whose father was a multi-instrumentalist. We have extended family members who enjoy music also, so you can imagine that music plays a big role in our family gatherings.

I have a very eclectic taste in music, and my Spotify Wrapped from this year is a testament to that. My top artist was Taylor Swift, immediately followed by Chopin. Both artists are very different, but they have greatly influenced me musically.

I picked Morningside mainly due to Dr. Person. My high school choir directors were my greatest inspirations, and since Dr. Person was connected to them, I got to talk to him when he visited my school. This made me decide to visit during Christmas at Morningside. I loved the performance and the general atmosphere, and I felt so welcomed on campus. This feeling has continued to be my experience. I’ve met some amazing people and feel so connected. One of my favorite memories from last semester was a long road trip the choir took to the South Dakota All-State Performance. Even though we were on the bus for a total of about 12 hours, it ended up being an excellent bonding experience and a lot of fun.

While I’m not totally sure what my future holds, I’ll most likely start teaching right away and then go on to earn a graduate degree in music theory and music composition. My love for music is the overall deciding factor in my decision making and it will continue to play that role. For anyone out there thinking about your future, I would encourage you to think of the things that come to you naturally and that you truly enjoy because you will have a lot more fun in life if you are doing something you love.”

• Claire Conn, sophomore music education major with a political science minor