Jeffery Young
Houston, TX
Music Major
“I’m half Hispanic, and I didn’t really grow up learning much about my heritage—I didn’t even learn Spanish,” says Jeffery Young, a music major from Houston, TX. “Now that I’m living in Baltimore, I’m getting the sense that heritage is important. I want to find out more about the history, the musical traditions, and what it means to me to come from that culture.”
Related Links
Music
Red Hot Blue
What to do in Baltimore
When he first came to Goucher, Young sought opportunities to pursue his love of singing. He joined Red Hot Blue, the college's co-ed a cappella ensemble devoted to AIDS/HIV awareness, and served as the club's musical director. He also played major roles in several operatic productions with the Goucher Opera Workshop, and he took up piano. But even though Young enjoyed being involved on campus, his experiences in downtown Baltimore have really expanded his horizons.
"I have a job in the city that was brought to my attention by one of my music professors," says Young. "I'm the bass section leader of a church chorus, and they've commissioned me to write a piece for them."
Young is a big fan of Baltimore's many annual cultural festivals, which give the community a chance to sample international food, music, crafts, and traditions. He also enjoys attending the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Both of these leisure activities have influenced his musical pursuits.
"In the city, there are Hispanic festivals, Eastern European festivals, Ukrainian festivals, Greek festivals—events that open your eyes to the world around you," says Young. "Especially as a music major, it's been very influential. I see professional musicians doing what they do and realize, 'Hey, I can get there someday, too.'"
Coming from a school where white students were the minority, Young was a little surprised by the lack of diversity on campus, but intrigued to learn more about the different cultures he did find represented at Goucher.
"Most of my friends here are Jewish, which is something I didn't grow up around," says Young. "Getting to know them definitely opened my eyes to a different culture and perspective, and classroom discussions about race and cultural differences have helped me to open my mind."
Between his relationships with students and faculty on campus and his experiences downtown, Young thinks it's easy to find a niche at Goucher. It's just a matter of making the most of what's available.
"First of all, you have to get out of your room," says Young. "That's a problem most students face. They want to find their comfort zone, and their comfort zone is in their bed, in front of their computer. But you have to explore. You can find like-minded people and groups on campus, and if you find that life on campus isn't cutting it, there's Towson and the city. You just have to get out there."