Jet Setting Band Director - Faceless Businesswoman #11

FBW
Mar 17, 2023
6 min read

What is your Job Title?

Middle and High School Band Director

Did you get a degree, and if so is it directly related to your field, if no, what is your degree

in?

Yes! Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Music Education

How long have you worked in your industry?

9 years

How did you get started in your industry?

Well truly, I started playing the saxophone in 4th grade and piano in 7th, so that has to be it! I was in my senior year of high school and I was in as many music ensembles as I could possibly be in, and I think that is what helped me realize how much I love music and I want to bring that passion and love to as many other people as I can! So, the best way to do that is to be a teacher I think, so I did it. After university, my current job came up as a one year opportunity and I’m still here 9 years later. Even though I’m shifting to Brazil soon, I will be doing essentially the same job just with a new community. And I am so happy!

What do you wish people knew about your industry?

That we provide more than just music to our students. Also, that teachers definitely deserve their breaks because even though I have set boundaries about working at home versus on campus, we work way more than 9 to 5 every day.

What advice would you give someone looking for their place in your industry?

Find amazing teachers, administrators, and friends who you can bounce ideas off of and who

really understand you, your field, or your expertise.

What do you think are essential qualities for someone to possess if they are interested in working in your industry?

Patience, being genuine, organization, and passion.

What is the hardest part of your career/industry/job for you?

The politics that come with any school you’re working in. I’ve never taught in the states, and I know that there can be a lot to deal with in those schools, but there is plenty of other stuff to deal with in international schools. Some is the same, some is different.

What is the most fun part of your career/industry/job for you?

Seeing the progress my kids make. I start them off as beginners who have never played an instrument before and within months they are playing simple songs together and in a year or so they are playing proper charts on their own. It’s remarkable. Seeing the lightbulb click on

suddenly for a kid is so magical. I also love being there for my students an building

relationships with them. I am lucky enough to see students for multiple years in a row,

which not all subjects are able to do, so it’s really fun to witness their growth and change

from 6th graders to 12th graders and beyond!

If you could change one thing about your business/industry what would it be?

Just the general structure of what leadership looks like and who tends to get the power. It is so interesting that most teachers are women, yet most leaders/administrators in education

are men. Also the respect that teachers get (or do not get) can be quite sad. Some

cultures really value teachers while others are okay being very demeaning towards us.

If you could do it all over again would you still want to end up where you are now?

Yes, I would not change anything! I am blessed to be doing something I love every day with

kids. I never thought I would be in international teaching and now I can’t imagine doing

anything else.

What is the worst advice you've ever gotten, or in hindsight given? Did the advice hinder or embolden your advances?

I think being available to your workplace 24/7 because it will make the people you work with happy and impressed by you. That’s unhealthy!

What does your typical daily schedule look like?

School is from 8:30am-3:30pm. Sometimes I have a rehearsal before or after school, so sometimes the days are extended to 7am until 5pm. Right now I teach two classes plus advisory a day, so I have time scheduled in for planning, grading, or meeting with colleagues. It’s pretty consistent.

What does work/life balance mean to you? And how do you personally achieve it?

I have just figured this out for myself since the pandemic. Being stuck in my apartment for 76

days straight in spring/summer 2020 meant I had to set boundaries. I only allowed myself

to do work in my office and on a certain laptop. When I was in the living room or in my

bedroom, I was on a different device and did not even think about doing work. That has

transferred well to my current life as I have the same boundaries even though I’m

working on campus again. It means I also use my time more wisely at school and really

let myself turn the work off when I walk in the door. It has made a huge difference in my

personal, social, and even professional life.

What does self care mean to you? How often do you take time for self care, or is it not

important for you?

Self-care means doing whatever you need to do to be well and be happy. It is individual for everyone and it is important to know what works or does not work for you, personally. I like to think that my working boundaries not only set me up for self-care time but are in a way a form of self-care. I do try to get my nails done once a month, prioritize time with friends as often as I can, and also just lay on the couch bingeing Netflix when I need to. As an introvert, I value my alone time to recharge for sure.

How do you show yourself care and compassion while ruling your world?

This has been really hard for me and I don’t have an answer I can fully formulate right now. But I’m getting better at it, that much I know!

How often do you schedule time off and vacations?

I do not schedule them, being a teacher they are scheduled for us with our holidays! Guaranteed time off as a teacher is a huge blessing.

What did you do for your last vacation or time off?

I was back home in the US celebrating the holidays with my family. Before that, family came to visit and I took a trip up to the mountains. The mountains are always a special place for me that I can never get enough of. It does not matter where or when, a mountain floating in the sky in front of me just brings me peace and total contentment.

Are you a life planner or do you let it go with the flow?

Living abroad means there are some things I know I need to plan ahead for, but I also love to go with the flow when I can. For example, I have to plan big international trips ahead of time and I have to think about what to do and who to see when I’m back in the US for limited times.

If a planner, what is the next goal you are going to hit?

The next big thing coming is moving to Brazil to start teaching at a new school. That also means I have just signed up for Portuguese lessons which should be really fun! Becoming somewhat fluent in a new language will be amazing!

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I went through wanting to be many things when I was growing up. When I applied to universities in high school, I was looking into biomedical engineering or neuroscience as my major. After I was accepted to a few schools, I finally realized that all I really wanted to do was be a music teacher, so I applied to the University of St. Thomas and the rest is history!

If you could do it all over again would you still want to end up where you are now? If no, where do you wish you had gone?

I could not imagine my life any different than it has been. Even though I’m leaving India soon, I would never trade my time here for anything else in the world. The colleagues, friends, and students I have met are some of the most special and important people in my life and I am eternally grateful to have been a part of their journeys.

What else would you like to share with us?

I love this project! Thank you for finding such

interesting stories to share!

Fun additional questions - lightning round style (quick answers):

Favorite Book: I don’t like to read in my free time!

Favorite band/singer: Falling In Reverse

Favorite Hobby: Cooking or Crocheting

Favorite Food: Anything vegan and delicious!

Favorite Color: Black

What’s the weirdest/funniest thing in your bag for work: Something called “Moon Gel” –

it’s these little sticky circles that are used to dampen some ringing sound on drums.

Secret Talent: I can wiggle my ears quite well