OCR Text |
Show 8 CULTURE ARTS young, I might as Well OFF CAMPUS just try to juggle both," Zotti 11 said. Student musicians juggle ASSIGNMENTS AND ASPIRATIONS JACOB SMITH STAFF REPORTER Despite the huge price tag associated with higher education, college isnt every students top priority. In fact, some students at colleges across the state attend college reluctantly for the stability promised with a degree but chase their dreams on the side, hoping to make their big break in an area theyre passionate about. Matt Zotti, a junior communication major at the University of Utah, spends his time in college managing the pressure to get.a professional degree while also finding time to chase his dream of making electronic dance music. I would say Im more of an artist in terms of what I am personally passionate about and even just time consumption, Zotti said. Using his last name as his stage persona, Zotti has been producing music for two years and has attracted attention on the digital community of SoundCloud. Zottis SoundCloud account has over 700,000 total plays on his songs, week and averages about 10,000 plays per audio-producti- on has 7,734 followers. Its not a one said. Its like the song kind of deal, Zotti audience is carrying over to my other tracks, which is, you know... really comforting. Zotti goes to school full time but said he spends the majority of his time working on his music. Basically, Im in school for stability, Zotti said. While I can, while Im young, I might as well try to juggle both. Zotti said he thinks its important to get a degree but music remains his primary focus. Where I spend my time and what Im most focused on... its really with art, Zotti said. Its totally subjective. Its beautiful. Its ugly. Its pretty much everything. Students at Westminster College are having similar battles, grappling with the pressure to get a degree while trying to follow their aspirations. Sam Johnson, a Westminster junior studying psychology and sociology, plays band called Statthe drums in a punk-roc- k ic Nostalgia. Ive got kind of two life trajectories in front of me, Johnson said. I can either do music, and do that professionally, or I can become a counselor and pursue that as well. ? So its really just kind of whatever takes off first." Johnson said that though he thinks about becoming a counselor, he also considers what he would do if he and his band were invited to go on tour. If theres an opportunity where we can go play Warped Tour, or we get picked up for a tour, like opening for somebody then, you know..." Johnson said. I would quit school for that opportunity. Money is a key motivator for people like Johnson to attend college and get a degree. It is a money thing, too, because its just like whatever is more financially secure at the time I feel like Ill go with, Johnson said. Though Johnson and Zotti said they feel like they have to choose one or the other, some Westminster faculty members have managed to take care of school and live their dreams simultaneously. David Baddley, Westminsters art department chair and a photography professor, has been teaching photo classes since he graduated college. I dont think theres like this defining moment when you say, I want to be an artist any more than theres like this defining moment when a person decides, I want to grow hair on my head or something like that, Baddley said. I think its something you kind of do. Its someone who you kind of are. David began teaching photo classes while finishing graduate school in exchange for tuition waivers, but he said he never associated his love for art with the need to make money. I never really linked art making and Baddley said. For me, making art was simply a component of who I was, and whether or not I was making money or starving almost didnt really money making, matter. Baddley said he thinks school makes it easier to pursue passion for creating art. I think skiing is a good analogy, he Its like the more time you spend doing it, the easier it is. Baddley said he doesnt believe school and dreams have to stand in the way of each other and urges students to do what feels right for them. Do the things that you want to because you genuinely believe thats what you want to do rather than you feel like thats what you should do, he said. said. |