I’m Cate Farson, from Godfrey, Illinois, and I’m a Mass Communication major. Music is important to me because it teaches me how to feel emotions and understand them on a grander scale. It helps me feel seen and understood like I’m not the only one experiencing various emotions. This art form brings people together and encourages connections, fostering a sense of community. Growing up around the world, I quickly learned that the fastest way to connect with someone is through music. People may not speak the same language as me thus making communication difficult, but when the music starts playing none of it matters. The way people experience music is universal.
For the abroad, I’m most excited to explore the classical music that a lot of music today is based upon. I’m most looking forward to going to the Czech Republic and seeing the Nutcracker. Nobody in my family has been to the Czech and I cannot wait to go to a country that my mother has not been to. However, just being able to experience Europe in the winter and being able to share such enriching experiences with my classmates is something to be excited about in and of itself.