Ijeoma Merenini

I believe that I was placed on this earth to help people. To be of service in some form or fashion. This is a realization that I came to at a very young age. I couldn’t have been more than eight years old, but it was the first time I was fully conscious of how much I had hurt someone. In that moment I vowed never to make someone feel that way again. I wanted to be a person who builds people up rather than someone  who tears them down. The best place to start is with the youth. Encouraging them and shaping their minds in hopes of influencing the next generation to become more empathetic and expressive than so many that came before them. So when I graduated with my bachelor’s in childhood education, I started out as a substitute teacher, eager to shift the culture. Much to my surprise it was far more difficult that I had anticipated. I was working with different students every day from different grades in different schools throughout the tristate area. I never stayed anywhere long enough to make the type of difference that I set out to make. Until one day when a substitute position turned into a permanent position, and I got the opportunity to stay in one place; learn and grow with the children as they were learning and growing. I taught the major subjects and found ways to incorporate music into the everyday curriculum. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. So for my master’s program I decided to focus on the production of music. I wanted to learn the fundamentals and be able to create from conception to completion. As a result I ended up pursuing a second bachelors in songwriting and then a master’s in music production. Studying music has provided me with a foundation that allows me to create in a more professional manner. I would love the opportunity to help young children see all the potential that they have by allowing them to express themselves through music. Whether that be: Songwriting, Mixing, editing, producing, or even performing. I know that I can lend a hand in helping them explore their artistic side. My experiences have helped me to believe in myself and inspire young children to bring out the best in themselves.