Reflection on the importance and value of studying the arts
Molly, BA Music
A personal account of the importance and value of study of the arts to personal development, skill enhancement and career aspirations
It is not an exaggeration to state that the time I have spent as a student in the Arts, Humanities and Culture faculty at the University of Leeds has been truly transformative: I have gained confidence, honed a widely transferrable skill set and have a changed outlook on life in general. My university education and experiences have given me confidence to face the future with much hope and anticipation, despite completing my studies in the midst of a pandemic, and looking to enter a world that, in many respects, seems bleak and uncompromising. I am beyond excited to feel that I have finally landed on that much coveted, long-term goal: a projected career path that I feel will lead to a job I will find genuinely fulfilling, challenging and, ultimately, incredibly worthwhile. I owe so much to the subject I have studied – music – as well as to my extra-curricular pursuits, networking, and attendance at careers events whilst at university for helping me navigate the way towards this goal.
As a music student, I have devoted time to practicing skills and studying areas as diverse as composition, performance, theory and analysis, conducting, psychology, marketing and social and cultural history. Not only is music an artform for which I will have a lifelong appreciation and fascination, but as an academic subject, it is also a fantastic facilitator for a range of career paths, and it has allowed me to discover more about myself, my natural abilities, strengths and motivations. Implicit within and crucial to all the many disciplines encompassed in the study of music are so many important life skills, and these have been demanded of me on a day-to-day basis throughout my studies and practices as a musician. As a result, I have become highly confident in my self-presentation and a competent public speaker, collaborator, and team-player. Leadership skills, ability to reflect on my own and others’ performance in constructive ways, analytical and critical thinking, and personability are also crucial traits of a musician, and qualities that I have developed as a student during my time at Leeds.
Alongside my studies, extra-curricular pursuits – from volunteering with local greenspace conservation groups, organising and participating in musical performances, forming group collaborations to bring music to local community care settings and volunteering for a charity telephone support service – have enriched my experience and brought to my attention the things that inspire and motivate me, as well as the skills that I can contribute to a team. Through such activities I have come to the realisation that the one thing I really value above all others is human connection – something that, as a musician and communicator, comes naturally to me. As such, a person-centred career where I can interact with a wide range of people daily, advocate for others, and positively impact others’ lives in a way that I believe is truly meaningful, has become my end goal.
Since fortuitously discovering the field of speech and language therapy a little over a year ago, I have come to realise how my musician’s skill set and aspirations for a person-centred role are an ideal match for the profession. To an outsider, this idea might seem to be a peculiar veering off-course or change of path, but in reality, the transferrable skills gained through my academic studies, alongside my existing interest base – including an enduring interest the physiological side of woodwind and singing performance which has many parallels with speech production – and my personal strengths in collaboration, communication and leadership, which I have built on and developed throughout my time at Leeds, are ideally suited to the speech therapist role. Not only this, but I feel that my background in the study of music, with the broad range of skills it has demanded, will truly be an asset in such a career.
The pandemic has imposed many limitations on opportunities to make connections and seek opportunities, but it has also established new norms of communicating online and made it easier to connect with a wide range of professionals. I have used this to my advantage, attending online talks and taster events with speech therapy providers as well as the 2020 global Health Professions Live Conference which ran virtually. My efforts to contact and connect virtually or over the phone with numerous UK-based speech therapists working in different areas of the profession has also been invaluable in gaining an understanding of the role, furthering my enthusiasm to pursue this career path. I am delighted that through my academic, extra-curricular and networking endeavours, and with the invaluable support of the university’s career department in application and interview preparation, I have been able to secure a place to train as a speech therapist for the NHS. I am thrilled to be commencing training this coming September, following completion of my Music degree at the University of Leeds.
Without a doubt, I will be a better future speech therapist for having studied music at University of Leeds and having pursued a wide range of extra-curricular interests in my time here. I will go forward with a continuing and enriching passion for music, as well as a demonstrable range of skills that will stand me in good stead for any challenge which the future may throw at me.