Meet this week’s Campus Celeb, Taylor Ericson! You can spot her at every single football game this fall, since she has been an active member of the Illinois State University drumline for three years, playing the marching tenor. With a passion for Spanish, she also decided to take advantage of the studying abroad program here at ISU. She went abroad to Spain during the spring semester of 2014. Taylor has a carefree, loving personality, a positive outlook on life, and is driven by her strong Christian faith. After making some peppermint tea and settling down in her cozy apartment kitchen, Taylor opens up about her love for music, teaching, and her experience abroad.
Name: Taylor EricsonAge: 20Major: Bilingual Bicultural Elementary EducationYear in School: JuniorWeirdest habit: Quoting movies and TV shows. I don’t know where it comes from, but I can watch a movie or an episode of something on TV and my brain memories it 100 percent and I can go back and tell you what a character says in every scene!Favorite Food: I love mixing things together and have a bit of a strange taste, so my favorite combo to eat is flaming hot Cheetos, macaroni and cheese, and a tall glass of chocolate milk.Favorite Song: That’s a tough since I love every single thing I listen to. The bands I’m most obsessed with right now are The 1975, A Day to Remember, and Walk the Moon. I am also a huge fan of Frank Sinatra!
Her Campus Illinois State: What made you become involved in drumline at ISU?
Taylor Ericson: Since the fifth grade, I have been involved in drumline; which means I’ve been in drumline for 11 years total. In choosing colleges, part of my decision involved whether the school had an awesome marching band. When I figured out I wanted to become a teacher and ISU also had a great marching band, it just made sense to come here and join. Being on ISU’s drumline is by far is my biggest passion in this world next to my faith, and nothing else in the world matters when I’m performing in drumline.
HC ISU: How long have you been involved with music?
TE: When I was two, the first instrument I ever picked up was a tiny snare. I started playing the piano when I was four. As I grew up, I got huge musical inspiration from my dad. When I was in the fifth grade, my parents said I should join band. When I auditioned, I couldn’t play any of the instruments and couldn’t make a sound out of anything. They took me over to percussion and asked if I could tap my foot and play with my hands at the same time; it came so naturally to me that right then and there they said that I was meant to be a percussionist.. Music has such a hold on me that my heart feels full because I’m doing something that I love doing. It speaks to my soul.
HC ISU: What are your future goals when it comes to music?
TE: I’m going to try my best to keep myself in drumline as long as I can. As soon as I graduated high school, I started teaching my high school drumline, as well as drumline at Lakes High School, Waukegan High School, and Woodland Middle School. That’s when I discovered that I loved teaching music to kids. I think it’s so wonderful to see kids get so excited about music and having them be able to learn something that they have never been able to learn, so I would love to continue teaching in the future.
HC ISU: What made you decide to study abroad?
TE: Since I’m in Bilingual Education, my major had a lot to do with my decision. I’ve been on numerous mission trips to Mexico and Panama since middle school. Since then, I’ve grown to love Spanish. When I was told about the study abroad program through ISU, I thought it would be the greatest opportunity to not only travel, but to also live in a whole different world. It intrigued me to be completely out of my comfort zone, surrounded by Spanish.
HC ISU: How did studying abroad in Spain impact you?
TE: It opened up my eyes to a completely different world. One minute, I would be on skype with someone back in the United States and we would be speaking in English, but right after that I would speak Spanish with host family. It taught me that you should know who you are, where you want to go, and how hard you are willing to work towards getting those things.
HC ISU: What challenges did you face while abroad?
TE: My main challenge was homesickness. For me, it was most difficult that I was off doing one thing in one country on the other side of the world but back home, the lives of my family and friends were going on without me. My biggest challenge since I’ve came back is a sense of disconnect from my friends and family; I missed six months of their lives when I was abroad in Spain.
HC ISU: Did music still have an impact on you when you were in Spain?
TE: I got the opportunity to volunteer at a local preschool down the street from where I live, and when I got there they asked, “Do you know anything about music by chance?” And I said, “Yeah, actually, I’m a musician.” They asked if I knew anything about percussion. Ironically, I have been a percussionist for 10+ years. It was the most incredible experience. They invited me to teach music in the preschool room every week to teach the children how to pronounce certain instruments. I didn’t necessarily go to Spain for music, but I thought it was incredible how it still followed me there.
HC ISU: How has your faith impacted your love for music and Spanish?
TE: My faith is the center of my love for music and Spanish. When I was younger, I led the youth worship team. I was the lead singer, and for a year I was up onstage leading worship in the youth groups. Through my faith, I was able to go on the mission trips to Mexico and Panama, which later sparked my interest in both performing onstage and my trip to Spain. Faith brought my two biggest passions into my life and I don’t know where I would be without it.
HC ISU: Any tips for students who are hoping to travel abroad?
TE: First of all, do it! Anyone who gets the opportunity to travel abroad definitely should. Figure out your environment as soon as you are there, and don’t spend all your money as soon as you get there, because you will (because I did) so don’t do it. Make sure you enjoy every second of your time there and observe every second that you can.
HC ISU: Where do you see yourself in five years?
TE: In five years, I see myself graduated and working as a teacher; also pursuing my real dream, which is to become a performing musician.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten: The piece of advice I’ve taken straight to heart was from my mom, and she said, “don’t let others force you to think less of yourself. Always remember who you are and don’t ever change that for anybody.”
One thing you can’t live without: My guitar, Sarah. That guitar has gotten me through both the lowest points and the highest points of my life. It allows me to escape the hardships of being in the real world and allows me to let my creativity to flow. It’s my most prized possession.
Best love advice you have received: This is from my dad, who is the biggest mush on the planet. We have a plaque in our house that my dad gave my mom and it says, “find someone who makes your soul happy”. And I will stick to that for the rest of my life. Whatever you do, don’t stop until you find someone who makes your soul happy.