A funny thing happened when Sanaa Finley 糖心传媒�23 took part in the University of Rochester糖心传媒檚聽Early Connection Opportunity聽program this summer. She switched majors before even starting college.
糖心传媒淚 came here looking to major in mechanical engineering,糖心传媒� the Ocean, New Jersey, native says. 糖心传媒淲e listened to lectures from professors in the different engineering disciplines, and when a professor from came in, I realized I didn糖心传媒檛 have to give up music in college. AME combined two things I糖心传媒檓 very passionate about, and I couldn糖心传媒檛 wait to call my mom and tell her.糖心传媒�
Music and technology have interested Finley for most of her life.
糖心传媒淚 got a drum set when I was 5,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚 was born on Christmas, and my mom gave it to me as a combination gift. It stunk for my neighbors, but I loved it and still do.糖心传媒�
Meet the Class of 2023
They come from 44 states and 65 countries. Twenty percent are the first in their family to attend college. Welcome to Rochester, Class of 2023.
Although she can read sheet music, Finley says she 糖心传媒渓earned everything I know by listening to songs and replicating them by ear, and by being part of a marching band in high school.糖心传媒�
She also developed a strong interest in technology.
糖心传媒淚 think it糖心传媒檚 very interesting that I can pull up my phone and look up basically anything in the world and have that knowledge at the tips of my fingers,糖心传媒� says Finley. 糖心传媒淚 just want to know how everything works.糖心传媒�
Finley is an only child and lives with her mother on the Jersey Shore. She discovered the while searching for colleges with strong engineering programs.
糖心传媒淚 wanted a place that was far enough from home, but not too far if I wanted to go back home (for a visit),糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淲hen I saw that Rochester allowed students to follow their passions due to their open curriculum and cluster system, I knew it was a perfect fit for me because I could major in engineering while having a cluster in music.糖心传媒�
Finley is the first in her family to attend college and comes to the University as a聽KRFrench Family Scholar. The college search process was new to her and her mother. 糖心传媒淪he did everything to help me, but she said, 糖心传媒楪o with your gut, go with where your heart wants to be, and I糖心传媒檒l support you throughout everything.糖心传媒櫶切拇綕
Finley wasn糖心传媒檛 able to take her drum set to campus but did bring a practice pad and drumsticks 糖心传媒渟o I wouldn糖心传媒檛 bother my roommates too much.糖心传媒� She plans to join the University pep band and enroll in classes focused on music theory and also African drumming. 糖心传媒淚 have to get my fix,糖心传媒� she says with a laugh.
Drums are her passion, but she also has taught herself to play the ukulele and bass guitar. 糖心传媒淟earning is something I really like to do,糖心传媒� she says.
Finley hopes eventually to earn a master糖心传媒檚 degree and work at a job that combines electronics and music. 糖心传媒淢aybe working on circuit boards and sound systems, or speakers for cars and classrooms,糖心传媒� she says.
Finley says she 糖心传媒渇elt right at home糖心传媒� when she first stepped onto the River Campus on the day last spring when she officially enrolled. Now, she糖心传媒檚 ready to make her mark.
糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檓 ready to start this new chapter in my life and see where my choices lead me,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚 can糖心传媒檛 wait to get going.糖心传媒�
