This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KU chapter.
The term “jack of all trades” is the perfect way to describe Ciana Albarelli (@Calbarelli04) as a Her Campus celebrity! A sophomore here at our very own University of Kansas reigning from Overland Park, Ciana likes to dip her toes in a variety of different activities, and why not? So often in college, students are afraid to do something outside of the “norm” for their area of study, but Ciana doesn’t have a care in the world for such nonsense! She is currently a Pre-Nursing student at KU, and also serves as the Secretary for the Pre-Nursing club on campus. She is a part of the Schol-Hall community, living in Maggie, and is planning on studying abroad in Sweden this coming Spring semester! While these activities are all wonderful ways to get involved at KU, what makes Ciana stand out is her involvement with the music program. She is apart of not one, but TWO choirs in the school of music, University Singers and Women’s Chorale. When you think of the extreme time commitment it requires to be involved in the music programs at KU, it’s clear that Ciana’s participation in two choirs, let alone one, shows a true passion for music.
“I love Choir. It’s my favorite activity I’m involved in. I did it in high school, so it’s nice to be able to do it at the collegiate level as well. I have a passion for music. I always wanted to major in something with music, but I came to realize that nursing is just a better fit for me. I would definitely encourage future freshman to audition to get involved with music here because there’s a spot for everyone. For non-music majors, it can be a really nice break from your routine of science and math classes. I love having two hours a day where I get to relax and just have fun while being in class. It’s kind of like a stress reliever for me. I definitely encourage all majors to auditions, you meet so many different people and it’s a really great opportunity.”
It’s so refreshing to hear a fellow KU student have a passion that she isn’t afraid to pursue. When asked about what it’s like being a non-music major involved in the School of Music, she responds:
“The music community is pretty welcoming here at KU. For the most part they are all happy and welcoming, but there is definitely different groups of people that are really close. It does make it hard because they are all so much more knowledgeable about music than I am, but I’ve had a lot of and made so many friends in choir. I would definitely still encourage people to get involved with it. The more you get involved, the better experience you‘ll have at KU. You‘ll meet so many more people and broaden your horizons. If you don‘t take advantage of it, then you‘re not getting the full college experience.”
Ciana is clearly not afraid of a challenge, and that’s part of what makes her such a wonderful Campus Celebrity. She enjoys every second of her KU experiences, hard work and all. When asked about what has made her experience at KU so special, she responds:
”What brought me to KU was the Pre-Nursing program, it just seemed like the best fit. It’s close to home and it has a lot to offer (plus the sports programs are great.) I think what has made my experience so special is the communities I’ve been involved in. I lived in Oliver my first year, and you just had the opportunity to meet so many people and meet people from all over the country. The diversity makes KU so unique. But I also think the whole basketball experience has been the most memorable for me because I didn’t understand the magnitude of what it all was unit I got here. Going to games and camping with my group was just so fun. I totally fan-girl the basketball team now, and I just realize how much it all plays into KU culture now.”
So we know that Ciana is a well-rounded, passionate student. But what’s a fun fact about her that isn’t so obvious to somebody that doesn’t know her?
I really like puppies! Like on Twitter (@Calbarelli04), I follow like twelve puppy accounts. I always randomly send them to my boyfriend and roommates.”
Of course we all have our quirks! And it’s so refreshing to hear about a student that has a passion for something and doesn’t give up on it. College is the time where we should all be encouraged to explore the things we love, and when we find our passions, it doesn’t always necessarily mean we have to center our entire life plan around it. You can have passions for so many different things, whether it be in music, acting, cooking, writing, or whatever. There’s no reason we can’t continue to do the things in life that make us happy while also pursuing goals that range in a completely different direction. Ciana has a passion for nursing, but it doesn’t mean she has to give up on her passion for music either. Ciana serves as a wonderful example of pursuing all the aspects of life that you love.