It is about doing something with a passion every single day and not losing love for it.
Because each individual is capable of passion, the way they apply that passion, whether it is as a veterinarian or a musician does not prevent them from relating to one and other as people with different careers. Two things could be completely different and still allow people to connect because they are unique individuals. That is why most people choose what they choose, because they are individual and it makes them happy to wake up every morning and know they are headed to a job they love.
The professors ho were interviewed were a testament to this passion. Some of them even started out on a different route but their interests changed and they began the path to the professions they love today. It appears that passion rather than money or what the career is, truly determines one’s success.
Most kids dreamed of being doctors, teachers, vets, or astronauts. These careers are often thought of as practical and fulfilling but some people choose a different route.
Other options might include professional singers, architects, dance teachers, or band directors, which are more arts related options that some people decide to pursue that are often viewed as a more of a non-traditional career path. The question then becomes why do people choose an arts career rather than a non-arts career? Do they still participate in the arts as a hobby even if it is not their vocation? After conducting research the reasoning behind peoples’ decisions became clear. Method Four professors from The University of Tennessee Knoxville were interviewed on the subject of why they chose their career.
Two were non-arts professors and two were arts professors.
The two types of professors were given different sets of questions. The arts professors were asked why they chose their profession and the reasoning behind not just settling for an arts hobby. As well as why are the arts important in society and what they enjoy about their jobs. The non-arts professors were asked why they chose their vocation, if they participate in any arts related hobbies in their spare time, and what they enjoy about their job.
The results of the interviews were then compiled and analyzed for similarities and differences.
Results Associate Professor of Voice, Lorraine Decision, comments on choosing the arts as a profession saying “ l have always felt that music chose me. It was like a fire burning in my soul and my belly. I was so hungry to learn everything about theory and music history and voice. ” For Professor Decision she did not have to make the decision.
It was a feeling inside of her that beckoned her on towards her future. Ms. Decision even began her college career in pursuit of a non-arts career, but quickly realized her calling was music (Decision, 2014).
The experience was the same for Dry.
Angela Abate, Associate Director for Graduate Studies and Director Of Choral Activities at the university of Tennessee. Dry. Abate also believes music chose her at an early GE. “ My mother tells me I sang myself to sleep in the crib as a newborn. I never, ever considered any other career! ” (Abate, 2014). This seems to be a pattern among people who choose arts as a career instead of a hobby.
“ You know that old adage that says choose something you love and you will never work a day in your life? That’s me,” states Dry.
Abate when asked why she went above and beyond and pursued music as her life path instead of simply joining chi arch choir on Sundays. Professor Decision knew that if she wanted to be dedicated and successful as a singer and musician it would require ore time commitment than a hobby would allow (Decision, 2014). As far as the importance of the arts in society both professors agree that the arts allow for immersion, “ in expression, reflection, intensity and communication” (Decision, 2014). Plenty of professors of the arts wake up and enjoy their jobs every day, but this is also true of non-arts professors as well.
Italian professor Francesca Felon loves teaching foreign language especially because she has the opportunity to teach her native language, Italian (Felon-Montgomery, 2014).
“ I believe that a career in this field opens my mind to other cultures and peps my drive for knowledge alive by providing inner growth in the process,” says Professor Felon. In a completely separate field Leslie Matheson who works as a Psychological Nurse Practitioner in the College of Nursing says she enjoys her career because it allows her to watch patients’ responses to medications (Matheson, 2014).
Just because your vocation is not in the arts does not mean you cannot still appreciate their beauty and emotion. Professor Felon loves to sing jazz and write her own songs (Felon- Montgomery, 2014).
That being said, Professor Matheson does not articulate in arts activities because of the commitment her job requires, but she still takes pleasure in volunteering for the Smokey Mountain Service Dog Program. It all comes down to your true passion. However it seems as if everyone has some connection to the arts, Dry. Abate believes the arts are essential in her life but in society as well. It is what gives us the quality of life we have.
It’s WHY we live, love and laugh! ” (Abate, 2014). Professor Decision could not agree more. Society has a need for expressing themselves through paintings, sculptures, photography, operas, and symphonies. Professor Decision describes these artistic talents as, “ gifts to each one of us,” (Decision, 2014). The arts are how we communicate when words are not enough (Decision, 2014). Discussion All of these professors seem to agree on following your true passion even if it is not your first choice.
In table 1. You can see the responses each professor had to the question of why they chose the job they have now. Two professors knew their path but the others started out in a completely different field. The two professors who knew what their life passions were, were not both arts professors. Dry. Abate and Professor Felon each knew the action they would have to pursue in order to be happy every day.
However, Professor Decision and Professor Matheson came to their careers through a different way. Dry. Abate Professor Felon Professor Decision Professor Matheson My mother tells me I sang myself to sleep in the crib as a newborn.
I never, ever considered any other career! Love speaking foreign languages and it is a privilege for me to be able to teach my native language, Italian.
I have always felt that music chose me, but was interested in Anthropology and the study of people and groups… After taking the only music class which was offered at y small New England college, I knew that I had to transfer to study music. Was a social worker who was working as a mobile crisis response specialist. I thought.
. “ Maybe there is more that I could do! ” I started out in the Family Nurse Practitioner track, but…
I switched to Psychological Nurse Practitioner As you can see not only people who find their profession in the arts discover their passion early in life. Most people in society who are successful in their field pursue their One true passion.
In other words, they treated their chosen careers as if it was an art. No matter if it is in the arts, science, history, or tat, these professors still love their jobs. Dry. Abate makes a very valid and significant point when she says that the arts are essential to life because the arts are an expression of the heart’s joy.
The other professors have proven that what makes a successful person is living a life where one’s career corresponds to what one loves. All of these professors show that whether through the arts or some other worthwhile career, each person has within them an artists passion.
Appendix A Data 1 . What were your reasons for choosing a career in the arts rather than a career not in the arts? 2. What was your motivation for pursuing the arts as a action as opposed to a hobby? 3. In what ways are the arts important to you? 4. What do you enjoy about your profession? Lorraine Decision 1. Have always felt that music chose me.
While in high school I sang in the concert choir and the madrigal group (which I absolutely loved! ) and performed in the musicals. I had thought I’d be going to college for Sociology because I was interested in Anthropology and the study of people and groups. But after my first semester in college realized that, after taking the only music class which was offered at my small New England college, that had to transfer to study music. It was like a fire burning in my soul and my belly.
I was so hungry to learn everything about theory and music history and voice. Frankly, I realized that in terms of making a living… T was about equally as difficult to make a living as an Anthropologist as it was as a musician so I opted to follow my heart’s desire and transferred to the University of CT as a Music History undergrad with Voice as my instrument.
2. I think that realized early on that would have an untiring bottomless source of energy and interest in music which would feed me for my life. I wanted my life to be filled with music and not as a side interest. In fact, now hat reflect upon that, I think I knew that to really reach my potential as a singer and musician would take more time and commitment than a hobby would allow. Anted to wake up each day happy that would be pursuing my dream and not just working a job and keeping music on the side.
3. I believe that the arts are the strongest expression of a culture. A day filled with music, dance, theater or visual arts is a day immersed in expression, reflection, intensity and communication. Think it is just wonderful that people need to express their deepest feelings and philosophies which which they grapple and that their product reflects that. I love museums; paintings, sculpture, photography.
And, of course, a symphony or an opera is a gift to each one of us. It is a world within a world.
And music takes over when words are not enough. My life is so very rich because every day is filled with beautiful music! 4. I consider my profession two-fold. As a teacher I love the process of helping a student discover and develop.
Am challenged and invigorated by students who are engaged and active in their own development. I love watching a student’s maturation as both a musician and a human being…
Because it goes hand in hand. My profession as an opera singer brings me attestation on many levels. The first and most obvious reason is that I get to dwell in the realm of sound and expression every day! Enjoy the rehearsal process; everything about it. The discovery, the collaboration, the study. And then there’s the performance.
Delivering the best you are capable of in that moment… And bringing beautiful music to the public. Sharing the great works of opera, concert and art song with people who ; when you are lucky – are changed and moved by the experience. One of my favorite stories: sang a recital on Valentine’s Day in Winston-Salem.
After the concert, a man came p to me and confessed that his wife had dragged him to this recital.
He said that he had enjoyed it so much and been so moved that he wanted to leave the recital and go home and write poetry. That was my greatest success! Angela Abate 1. My mother tells me I sang myself to sleep in the crib as a newborn. I never, ever considered any other career! 2. You know that old adage that says choose something you love and you will never work a day in your life? That’s me.
3. Arts are crucial not only to me, but to society in general. It is what gives us the quality of life we have. It’s WHY we live, love and laugh! 4.
Everything. I love the process of the arts, especially as it applied to teaching.
The accomplishment of a group working together to meet a musical goal is what is perhaps most satisfying! 1 . Why did you choose your current career? Why did you choose your area of study? 2.
Do you participate in any arts activities in your free time? (Church choir, painting class, musical instruments, swing dance lessons) 3. What do you enjoy about your profession? Francesca Felon 1. Love speaking foreign languages and it is a privilege for me to be able to teach my native language, Italian. I believe that a career in this field opens my mind to other cultures and keeps my drive for knowledge alive by providing inner growth in the process.
Also, and most importantly, it gives me a selfless sense of giving others the opportunity to appreciate their own talents and learn to use them for the good of the community. If by the end of my work day have instilled in my students the joy Of learning and inspired them to be creative with their talents and knowledge, then I feel like I did my job very well! 2.
Do enjoy the church Choir, dancing as a workout, and just generally love music. My favorite hobby is singing Jazz standards and writing songs. . Overall, I find teaching an enriching and rewarding profession.
The best part of my job is the opportunity to teach creatively, by giving the students a chance to express themselves in a foreign language! For instance, this past semester, they had the optional task to perform as actors, (as well as dancers and musicians), in a mini play in Italian. The aim of the project was to promote the Italian culture and specifically the Italian Carnival celebration, which has its origins in the Italian Renaissance Theatre. Therefore, students were able to embrace the culture through becoming one with its language ND by putting into practice what they have learned in the classroom.
At the end of the project found my self energize by these students who put a lot of efforts in the performance and made me a proud instructor.
.. And what an incredible self-esteem boost this whole project has been for them! Their proud smiles at curtain call were a reminder of why I enjoy teaching! Leslie Matheson 1. Was a social worker who was working as a mobile crisis response specialist.
In this role the Mad’s treated me pretty much as a Physician’s Assistant. I enjoyed that level of collaboration. One day a Nurse Practitioner came to interview for a job on the team.
Now mind you she and I both had a Masters Degree).
My boss made the comment that we could not afford a NP on the team, but if she applied in the clinic they could pay her $60, 000 per year (1998 dollars). I was shocked, because that was about 3 times what I was making. So, thought..
“ Maybe there is more that I could do! ” I started out in the FAN track, but at my age I figured it would be much wiser to build on my current knowledge base than to try to learn a whole new field, so I switched to Psych NP. 2. I work entirely too much. Do contribute some time to the Smoky Mountain Service Dog program, evaluating applicants. At this point I am pretty much my “ own boss” in terms of setting hours and policy, etc. I enjoy seeing the response to medications, what do makes a difference in the life of my patients.
Appendix B Evaluation The method used for this paper was interview, which was best suited for gathering the information needed to adequately answer the research question. There could have been more questions along with follow up questions. Perhaps there could have been a survey about students’ involvement in the arts as well but the observation method would not have worked very well for this paper either.
