Illinois State student Jamie Kennett is only a freshman, but she has already acquired some very unique experiences through the Presidential Scholars and Honors Programs.
Jamie is majoring in Music Education with an emphasis in the Instrumental-Band sequence. Jamie would like to pursue a career as a high school music teacher after she graduates, and is in the process of making plans to also pursue higher education. Jamie mentioned that she would like to go back to school for her Master’s Degree and she could eventually even see herself teaching at the college level. Jamie’s drive toward a high level of academic achievement is not a surprise, as she is one of the few Music Education majors who will finish her degree in 4 years rather than in the standard 5! “I was really excited to find out I could chop off a whole year because of my AP classes,” Jamie commented.
Jamie’s drive, along with the Presidential Scholars Program, really enabled her to build a solid academic foundation and also allowed her to branch out toward other students. “One of the best things was the PS Colloquium. I knew a lot of other freshmen who were confused about registering and campus in general. The Honors Program just takes care of you, which is just a nice thing to have, especially as a freshman,” Jamie mentioned.
Perhaps one of the most unique opportunities Jamie experienced was through her Service Learning project at University High School (U-High). Jamie is one of the few freshmen who was brave enough to attempt a Service Learning project during her first year of school, which has been a “really interesting” experience. Jamie has been working under the direction of the band director at University High School, where she has had the opportunity to work closely with the students and with a very large collection of music. The U-High music program encompasses a broad spectrum of musical talents and abilities ranging from students who have only been playing for a year or two to students who are sitting in high chairs at All-State. “It’s really incredible seeing both ends of the spectrum,” Jamie mentioned. Specifically, Jamie works with students to prepare for Sectionals or Solo and Ensemble Contest. “Not only is it fun but it’s also something that I enjoy,” Jamie commented. When Jamie is not assisting with contest preparations, she may be found tackling a huge filing cabinet overflowing with music. Jamie’s job has been to go through the drawers, organize, alphabetize, and then put it all into an electronic database for easy access and future use. “It’s cool cause I’m sure when I get a band I will have to do that at some point, so I’ll know how to create a system, which is nice,” Jamie said.
Aside from her busy life as a Music Education major at Illinois State, Jamie would like to look into doing some research projects related to music, and she also hopes to study abroad in Austria or Italy in an upcoming semester. “Getting to study my instrument in another country would just be a really cool experience, so that’s something I’m looking forward to,” Jamie stated.
When asked if she will use her experiences through the PS and Honors Programs, Jamie had nothing but positive comments. “These programs help you out as far as what you need to be as a person because it teaches you about responsibility and perseverance, but it also teaches you that some of the things you are doing are functional and can be used in whatever you get your degree in.”
Her advice for other students? “Don’t procrastinate – EVER. If you have a spare hour and you have an assignment that’s due next week, just force yourself to sit down and do it.”
written by: Sasha Boheme