Who is making a big difference in your life right now and serving as a strong source of encouragement? How or why?

Due to the immense amount of free time, I’ve turned back to the oldies but goodies. I started writing music again, at a full time job rate. I wake up then go into my basement and write for 4 to 6 hours, then get food, then go back down and record. This has been a way to deal with all of my mangled feelings about this entire situation and stimulate positive experiences and thoughts. I’ve also gotten back into editing photos I’ve taken through out the year. To summarize, simple doable creative tasks have kept me sane.

Hands down, my children are making the biggest difference in my life. We quietly work on our school work, we spend time exercising together, and cooking, baking, painting, creating, making music, dancing, and playing games. We love each other so much and we’ve always been exceptionally close, but now more than ever. I’m so grateful for this added time with them.

Brenna Crowgey, who is one of my best friends and housemate. She is inspiring me to use this time to practice, and to take time to do things we normally wouldn’t do during the school year. Even though we are at our parents’ houses, the other day she called me to Zoom so we could practice together 🙂 I am so thankful for her positive, inspiring and hard-working presence in my life.

During this difficult time one person who has been incredibly understanding and encouraging is professor Doris Lederer. She has always been someone I can trust and prompted me to persevere through tough times. She urged me to use music and practice for mental and physical reassurance in myself. Because of her I have felt myself grow and develop skills I did not even think were possible. She has made me a better musician, but also a stronger person.

I’m currently quarantined with my younger sister, who is one of my best friends. We’re appreciative of this time we get to spend together since we would both usually be separated from home (we’re both college students). I’m using this extra time to build my music skills, and she’s been joining in my practice sessions by singing along to my guitar playing. I’ve been able to teach her some ukulele skills too so we can play together! Music is such an amazing source of connection and expression during this strange time in the world, and I’m grateful to be making music with her to pass the time.

All my peoples in the music therapy department! I’ve been working very hard to make a virtual community space for the music therapy department using Discord (a voice, video and text chat app). We’ve been holding community events, such as coffee houses and game nights, to bring people together and give a space for continued growth as we’re all separated. I’ve felt very encouraged by the marvelous MUTHs who have been engaging on the server, and supporting it in other ways as well.

(Pictured: Our Club Penguin event from Saturday, April 4)