Music: The Most Beautiful Form of Communication

My name is Victoria Shepard and I am a rising senior at the University of Missouri. I am a Communication major, pursuing a minor in Spanish, and I am a Multicultural Certificate recipient. Outside of my studies, I am also an artist and musician. I began playing my first instrument at the age of eight, and fell in love with music. From singing in the church choir, writing my own original music, to learning other instruments like piano and guitar, it has always been a passion of mine to explore all aspects of music. To me, music is the most beautiful form of communication. The ability it has to bring people together from all walks of life is like no other. You can heal, reflect, laugh, cry, or just sing along. You can share a story and someone, somewhere, could connect with exactly what you are trying to express and convey. It is truly a powerful medium, and I want to immerse myself in all that can be. I always knew that it was something I wanted to share and develop throughout my life.

My ultimate goal is to combine my passion for music with my education. Whether that be through the research of how music is directly linked to the Black experience world-wide, continuing to write, record, and produce my own works, or both. I also want to travel the world and get a first-hand account of the impact of music in different cultures. I want my professional career to incorporate all of this. I applied to the Mellon Scholars Workshop because my communication professor, Dr. Hales knew I was curious about graduate school and doctoral programs. He introduced me to this program, knowing that many of my questions would be answered for both.

The Mellon Scholars Workshop not only expanded my knowledge of graduate school, but also nurtured my professional development. The experience gave me the tools to identify my goals, and craft a plan to accomplish them. I was able to connect and interact with other students with a plethora of research topics, interests, and ideas. Some had already applied and been accepted to graduate schools. I was also able to listen and talk to authors, activists, and other scholars whose works are published and revered by so many. Hearing their stories, hopes, and dreams made me feel more at ease and encouraged me to consider the vast opportunities that furthering my education could provide. I want to thank the Mellon Scholars Workshop, the Library Company of Philadelphia, and Dr. Hales for allowing me the opportunity to further explore my professional, educational, artistic development.