Cadence Weaver-Deering- College Journeys: Advocating for Equal Learning Opportunities
Where did you go to college?
Marshall University in Huntington, WV for my undergrad and masters degrees.
What did you study?
In undergrad, I studied Music Performance with voice as my primary instrument, and in my masters degree, I studied Music History and Literature.
Tell us about your college experience.
I decided on Marshall kind of last minute, but I could not see myself anywhere else! I am a product of the School of Music here at Marshall, and now I proudly serve as a faculty member. I got to travel the world with ensembles on campus, and I’ve been given opportunities beyond my wildest dreams! I met so many friends and made incredible music along the way.
How do you feel that your university experience shaped you personally and professionally?
Marshall University has been the place where my life has taken shape. I met my partner very early in my time on campus because of Marching Band and we have a really wonderful life here in Huntington. I also never knew how many jobs and opportunities there were within music until I started studying music here. I’ve performed in so many amazing venues, connected with industry professionals, and even found myself working for the University.
Do you feel that college opened doors for you that you might not have otherwise had access to?
Absolutely! I came from a small town in West Virginia, not at all anticipating that I would be singing opera, let alone creating a successful career with a music performance degree. I’ve been able to learn from world class faculty, gain insight on other cultures and languages through music, and I’ve found like-minded people who I count as lifelong friends.
What challenges have you faced in the pursuit of higher education if any?
I was certainly challenged financially in my pursuit of my degrees. I worked 3 jobs during my undergraduate experience to make rent. I had a church choir job, a job teaching private lessons, and I had a serving job to cover expenses. I was balancing my jobs with 19-24 credit hours (give or take depending on the semester) of classes.
I was extremely grateful to be able to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for my masters degree. During my first semester of my masters program, my family suffered a tremendous loss which greatly impacted my mental health. Soon after, actually during dead week of my first semester, I found out I was pregnant. I worked and attended classes in the Spring as normal, and I had a perfect baby boy that summer. I took a semester off after having my baby, and I picked back up in the spring to finish strong with a 3.8 in the fall!
Do you feel that there is a need for better access to quality education in your community?
I’ve had access to some really amazing educators throughout my entire time in school, from K-12 and higher ed onward. I find that my field of study is very highly specialized and sometimes inaccessible in places like Appalachia. One of my goals as I head into my doctoral studies is to bring higher music education to an accessible delivery in the Appalachian region, and to, likewise, bring Appalachia to academia. There is a hub of musical activity happening in our region that is worthy of attention and study, and the people of Appalachia deserve to access to the musical language they have significantly contributed to.