Student Blogger: Heather

Spring is Here!

Hey there readers!

Spring is springing here on Guilford campus!  Spring so lovely at Guilford, I feel like with everything in nature coming alive and blooming, the students do too and everyone comes out on the quad and soaks up the rays of the North Carolina sun we’re so lucky to have shining down on us.  But oh, the allergies!  I feel like I am extra sensitive to allergies because it directly affects a large portion of the work I do every day (singing with a dry throat is nearly impossible!) But with the right doses of local honey and regular sleep, it’s definitely manageable; and it is a small price to pay to get to be here in the beautiful weather on this beautiful campus.  

Serendipity is this weekend! I think Serendipity is a beautiful way to welcome in the springtime and celebrate the Guilford community that is made up of so many incredible people, and to highlight so much of the creative talent that we have here.  I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to play an acoustic set on Saturday by the lake along with some other talented musical Guilford folks, as well as participate in an event as part of a theme house, so I am looking forward to that after a week of lots of hard work. 

On another note- I am constantly amazed by the correlations between my vocal studies and my academic studies.  I feel as though at first consideration, being relaxed and centered is something that may seem easy- all you have to do is nothing, right?! Wrong!  I have to remind myself sometimes how much work really does go into the delicate balance of controlling and letting go of the subconscious control of muscles I would have never have known that I had unless I was a vocal major.  And I feel like this is an important lesson in my daily academic life - letting to of small things that I’d like to be able to do but can’t, and focusing on the big, necessary, and important things with calm but powerfully focused mindset.  And as I progress academically and take more classes as the years progress, I discover more of my academic “muscles” that I didn’t know I had and learning how to control and hone them to achieve a level of academic success I know I am capable of.

A new favorite part of my day is waking up to daily emails sent to my from my wonderful Mom- and they always have a quote at the end to lift my spirits up and inspire me.  It's an amazing way to start my day fresh and motivated.  In honor of that, I like to end my blog posts with a quote, so I’ll leave you with this one:

“Imagination is the suspension of disbelief.”  

 Imagine what you can do if you can just start creating it in your mind and believe  that you can do it!  Concepts like this remind me why I love being at Guilford.  Through the people I meet, classes I take, and experiences and opportunities that I’m lucky enough to say that I’ve had, I am constantly encouraged to push myself farther to do the things I’d like to do and believe in my own power and strength to realize what I imagine.

 

Be well!

Heather

 

Hello! What a very busy time it has been- with spring cleaning and the spring springing and backpacks bursting with work. I have another post coming this afternoon, so keep your eyes out for that and stay well in all this pollen!

My name is Heather Scott and I am a Junior here at Guilford. I am currently a Music major, vocal track; with a definite minor in Religious studies. I’m working on a few more additions to that title- possibly doing a triple minor or even another major- which I wouldn’t even be considering if it wasn’t for the exceptional staff that I have the opportunity to work with here.

This is my first entry so I’ll give you a little background about myself! I’m from a little town called Northborough in the great state of Massachusetts. I’ve sung in choir since sixth grade and I would enjoy studying almost any art form, I love them all so much- but I know I can’t have music absent from my life. I was lucky enough to grow up in a household with very supportive web of family members who have never ceased to be my biggest fans and encourage me in my musical decisions and potential. I love cooking, sunflowers, and collecting maps. I’m pretty indecisive and I’m very passionate.

The reason I chose Guilford was that cliche everyone always talks about- that “feeling.” I knew in my gut when I visited Guilford that I was meant to go here. It was a feeling I couldn’t ignore and I’m so happy I didn’t. I’m from the north, so I originally didn’t want to come down too far because I wanted to be within a reasonable traveling distance from home. But I have a few relatives down here that encouraged me to look at North Carolina schools, and when I visited Guilford I was overwhelmed with positive feelings. Coming to Guilford was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my short lifetime so far. I consider it my second home. The the campus and the size both fit my original criteria for a college almost perfectly, but the real reason I love this school is because of the people. I am continued to be amazed by the positive impacts that the faculty, staff, and my fellow students have on me. I also feel lucky enough that I have a college environment that allows me to exercise my potential to impact a community that I love being a part of.

I recently gained a lot of motivation within my Music major and a goal that I’d like to reach this semester is to increase awareness and attendance at music events. I think sometimes my fellow students, simply because they don’t know much about the Music department, don’t realize the amount of work that goes into being a Music major, and it would mean a lot to me to have them come out to some of our events, concerts, and recitals and experience what I love to do.

In addition to Rumi and Revolution, Music Theory IV, a Guitar class, Choir and Chamber Choir, and Voice lessons, I’m taking Quaker Spirituality this semester, and I can safely say that it is one of the best classes I will ever take at Guilford. I think by the end of this semester I’ll have become what’s called a “convinced friend,” which essentially is someone who has decided to follow Quaker practices and teachings. Before Guilford, I had very strong hesitations about any kind of religion, and I’m thankful to not have been brought up under any kind of religious influence; but now I find myself not only becoming comfortable and enthused about exploring different religions and realizing just how many there are, but minoring in Religious studies! Every time I learn more about Quakerism, I can relate even more to it and it makes more and more sense to me.

I’m off to my first QLSP (Quaker Leadership Scholars Program) meeting, so I have to run- but I’ll update you all on my general Guilford experience with my next entry! I’ll leave you with a favorite quote of mine:

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." -Jalal ad-Din Rumi

~Heather