Music Therapy Blogger Challenge 3 – Life is Like A Box of Chocolates

For anyone who knows me, I love a good quote. One of my favorite Pinterest boards is filled with some of my favorite quotes and song lyrics. This week, I wanted to share with you a quote that I absolutely love and always have.

“My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’” – Forrest Gump

How often do we create plans only for them to not work out as anticipated? For me, this quote really hits home and makes me reflect when I think about my journey to becoming a music therapist. I originally began my college career as a Music Performance/Music Education (Choral) double major. Within a year, I knew that I wasn’t meant to ‘teach’ per-se, but that I had another calling… I just didn’t know what it was yet. I had a fulfilling college experience, despite the busy and demanding schedule that us music majors take on. I worked part time at a grocery store the first half of college, then in undergraduate admissions, was a campus tour guide, completed a two year global immersion program and still managed to fit in singing at the Kennedy Center with choir and pulling off a senior recital. However, when it came time to graduate – the girl who was known for having a plan for everything – didn’t have a plan. All I knew is that I wanted to work with people. Did I want to go into social work? … Ugh I’d need to start all over… Maybe family counseling… same scenario.

To this day, I remember the exact spot that I was sitting where someone mentioned music therapy to me. I was eating my usual Chick-Fil-A dinner in the student union with a couple of friends.

It was my spring semester, senior year and I had just gotten out of my Opera Workshop class, and a friend goes “Kayla, have you ever considered music therapy?… You love helping people so much, but you shouldn’t have to give up music and what you know and love as well.”

I knew I wasn’t going to be the next Audra McDonald coming out of University of Maryland, but I knew my training was going to prepare me for greater things… Graduation came and went. I started researching different universities that had music therapy equivalency and master’s programs and here I am three years later as a graduate of Shenandoah, with my board certification and gainfully employed.

Seven years ago when I started my undergrad I stuck my hand into that Russell Stovers box thinking I was going to come out with God only knows what – and here I am holding the richest of chocolates.  It wasn’t what I expected, but it’s equally as sweet. 🙂