1.What made you decide to come to Rutgers?
It was between here and Montclair. RU was closer to home though, and I could go home and see hometown friends whenever I wanted. It’s also in the middle of a city and there’s always something to do, which is good because I get restless and want to go adventuring a lot.
2. What has your Rutgers experience been like so far (extra curriculars, favorite classes, etc.)?
It’s literally been something new every year. I joined The Daily Targum freshmen year, RU Figure Skating Club sophomore year, MBPsi junior year, and marching band senior year. So you can definitely say that I’ve been kept on my toes.
3. What made you choose your instrument?
(1) My parents put me in piano lessons when I was a kid until I asked to stop. When I got to high school, though I wish I never did, I’d be so much better at it. (2) Guitar came from an addiction to playing Guitar Hero 3 a lot, and my middle school offered lessons as an extra curricular. (3) I started percussion in high school because I walked into band thinking it was like a rock band until I was told there was no guitar in a concert band, and I didn’t know how to play any wind instruments. Then I expanded my percussion repertoire by joining wind ensemble and marching band the following years.
4. What made you decide to join Mu Beta Psi?
My high school band director is a Brother (Josh Cabrera, Alpha Eta) and mentioned a Music Fraternity offhandedly on occasion. I forgot about it when I got to college until junior year when I literally ran into a girl by chance wearing a shirt that said “Music Fraternity,” and I asked for more information. The rest is history, and here I am. Fun fact: That girl was Jena Eckenroad lol.
5. What has being in Mu Beta Psi been like for you?
I gained like 30 friends in one semester so that was wild. It’s definitely been a trip, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I traveled to other states with Brothers, did Rutgers events I wouldn’t have done otherwise, and gaining this whole new support system saved my life and my sanity.
6. Do you have a favorite memory in Mu Beta Psi?
My first Convention at Zeta Chapter was really fun. It was my first travel experience and it was WILD. Made new friends from other states, put faces to the names of National Officers that I only read about, got a traffic ticket, and walked onto a frozen lake. Definitely one for the books. Non-Brotherhood related, a bunch of us went away for a weekend in the summer to Atlantic City for a Brother’s birthday (Kelly Blackwood, Alpha Chi). It wasn’t an official Brotherhood activity or event, but all the guests were Brothers and it was nice to just be loose and have fun away from our business side of things.
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
LOL what free time? Grad school and two jobs, but I guess when I can find time to myself I either read, listen to music, Netflix/Disney+, or I go out with friends.
8. Do you have any advice for anyone interested in joining Mu Beta Psi or looking to get more involved?
Just because we are a Music Fraternity doesn’t mean it’s ALL we are. We all have majors and jobs in different fields, and you automatically join a big network of connections. Alumni have helped undergraduates get jobs before. You’ll also almost always have someone to hang out, study, and eat with. Come out to rush week, recruitment events, and other public events we throw to see if it’s your cup of tea. Talking to Brothers and hanging out with us is the surefire way to know if you think it’s right for you. If it is, be prepared to meet some the wildest, craziest, most fun group of people around.