“I can’t even imagine my life without music, so I decided that this [music] was something I wanted to dedicate my time to when I’m not studying,” Jen Searing discloses. “Playing in a music group makes me feel like I’m an important part of something positive on campus, and it’s nice having something to look forward to every week.”
Jen Searing is a freshman Quantitative Finance major minoring in Music and Technology and is from Shoreham, Long Island, NY. She is very involved in the performing arts on campus. Her various extracurriculars include Choir, Orchestra, President’s Ensemble, Newman Catholic Association, Stevens Christian Fellowship, Stevens Women in Business, and Theta Phi Alpha. In her free time, Jen enjoys singing, playing flute, traveling, and drinking tea. “My favorite kind of tea is Earl Grey.” (That’s my favorite flavor, too!)
“I’ve been singing for my entire life,” Jen says. “Both my parents are in a church group, and I grew up always around that. I decided to play the flute because my mom also plays, and I’ve been in bands, orchestras, and choirs since then.”
Through all her musical journeys, one memory sticks out in particular: “When I was traveling with American Music Abroad in Europe, we were supposed to perform in an outdoor venue in a small town in France, but we got rained out,” Jen recounts. “The rain stopped for a bit, so a bunch of my friends and I were in the town square and there was an older woman who didn’t get the memo that the concert had been called off. So, my friends and I decided to put on an impromptu performance with all of the people we had. We sang through a bunch of our songs and by the end of it, about fifty people who lived there were gathered to hear us sing and the woman had the largest smile on her face. Even though most of us didn’t speak the same language as she did, we could communicate through our music, which felt so good.” Music truly is a universal language. Go Jen!
“The leader of music in my church, Carrie Logan, inspired me to sing more. [At first] I didn’t like singing alone, but she helped me find a purpose to sing and become more passionate about my music,” Jen says. “My high school choir teacher, Dennis Creighton, was also a mentor to me. He gave me opportunities to pursue what I love and helped me to be more confident. He encouraged me to audition for All-State choirs and take advantage of opportunities to sing more.”
In addition to being a hobby, music has also been a way to relieve stress. Jen says, “Music has given me a place to destress and refocus my goals. Also, just the act of having to make time for rehearsals and balance that on top of classes and schoolwork has improved my time management skills and made me a better student.” Jen adds, “I know there have been studies done as well that suggest music skills and math skills use the same part of the brain, so I’m sure that has also had an impact on both music and academics.”
“Music is such a huge part of my life, and I’m so glad that I can be in ensembles here,” Jen expresses. “I feel that the music community is so welcoming and provides its members with a sense of belonging. Music helps me express myself, and I feel like I’m free to be the person I want to be.”
Jen plans to continue her musical pursuits through college and beyond. She says, “Whatever I do, I know that I want to help people and improve their lives. A random goal of mine is to visit all seven continents at some point.”
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