Two days…
This post might be kind of long. and for that. I’m sorry… unless you’re the type that like long blogs. I hardly write really long ones… but I think this one fits. Anyways…
In a little over 36 hours. I will have graduated from Greenville College. I began my journey here in 2001 as a CCM Major. I didn’t become an ITEP Major until the beginning of this year. I was even accepted into the Recording Emphasis. However. after a lot of thought. ITEP was pretty perfect for me. I did 99% of the CCM Major. ditched some pointless Gen Eds. and added some Digital Media and CIS classes to make my ITEP. I also put in like three fold for Sound Reinforcement. Anyways… This year seemed kind of like busy work for me mostly. but I’m glad I did it anyway. I’m glad I came here. When I started looking at colleges in High School. I knew the CCM Major was pretty much what I wanted in a major. I looked at the DM Major. and decided that wasn’t exactly what I wanted in that area. I knew I was coming here… In fact. I didn’t apply to any other colleges. Illinois seemed far. but I travel a lot anyways. GC is in the middle of nowhere. but not anymore so than my house in NJ. So. I’d say I gained some knowledge over the years. But more importantly. I’ve gained experience.
With that. I have some advice.
1. Don’t be confined to what you think you’re majoring in.
2. If you’re interested in Sound Reinforcement. don’t be guided by Studio Recording… they’re NOT the same thing! Teach yourself all you can. Run sound for everything you’ve got the opportunity to. If you want to do something. speak up.. or just go do it.
3. Run sound for Rock Class!! Even if you’re not all that interested in SR. do it. There’s no other time in your life that you’ll have the opportunity to mix 4-6 bands in 2 hours for FUN! You’ll see some amazing musicians. hear some great covers. and by the time you’re done it. you’ll be prepared to run sound for any weird thing that comes your way. It may also change your mind about Sound Reinforcement.
4. Your best mindset should be that you do not know anything… and everyone around you knows more than you do. Follow that. and you’ll learn a TON from other people. Don’t pretend you know it all. you’re the best. you don’t need to practice. or that you don’t care.
5. Pursue what you don’t know instead of protecting what you do know. Stretch yourself to learn something new.
And while I’m thinking about it. it’s going to be odd not being around the friends I’ve made here. It seems like yesterday that I was going on 3:01 AM McDonald’s runs with Rod for the (new) McGriddles or staying up to 3 AM becuase we were bored. I remember watching movies in Snyder Hall on the projectors because it was easy to break into. There was a time (when I didn’t have a car) that we’d walk from Joy to MotoMart at 4 AM… though that was probably before we discovered McDonalds. Oh. and last year. Rod and I discovered that you (college student) could get free fries and soda from the Greenville Hardees when you bought a burger… That meant a $3 meal. A couple months later. it closed. This year has been amazing too. First semester was a riot living with Rod. You could only imagine. It only took 3 years for us to room together… although we were probably both safer that way. I’ve spent a lot of time with Dan Wolfe. discovering more and more that we’re kind of the same (both geeks)… and he can make my sink turn on from his kitchen. And. we can let each other into each other’s apartments. Jason Leong sure likes his (sour patch) kids. $0.97 at WalMart can buy a little piece of Heaven.
Almost finally… I hear there’s like 28 CCM Majors graduating with me. If you’re reading this… I think you’re all amazing musicians / songwriters / producers / engineers / noisemakers. Don’t make the mistake of not keeping in touch with the people you’ve been learning. studying. and playing with for the past 4 years. We all know Greenville is competative… but I think its time you use each other’s talents. Too many people leave here and don’t use connections when they’re probably around the corner.
Finally… The east coast is amazing… and New Jersey is amazing. You should come visit. Good night!