I meet with the energetic and friendly UIC junior, Tessa Turner, to get to know her and her singing career. I find out that she’s majoring in the teaching of French, was born in the Philippines and grew up in Urbana, Illinois. To find out more about Tessa read below!
HC: What made you decide to major in the teaching of French specifically? What age group would you like to teach?
My freshman year I came into UIC as undeclared, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I thought maybe medicine because I knew I wanted to help people, but after my first fall semester, I realized I didn’t want to study Chemistry. I met up with an advisor, we talked about it, and after realizing that one of my best strengths was communicating with others, I decided to go with majoring in the teaching of French. I think it embodies me and what I want to do.
I want to spend a couple years in France teaching French students English. Then come back to the U.S. to teach French. I’m not sure what grade level yet, I’m really up for anything. Maybe a little bit of everything!
HC: Have you ever been to France? If not, when do you think you’ll visit?
I have. I actually studied abroad in Paris last year for four months. I loved it! I’m definitely going back once I graduate.
HC: What instruments do you play and how long have you been playing them?
Well, I sing, I have all my life. I started singing with my friend in eighth grade, starting off as just messing around, then it got more serious as the years went on. I play the guitar, which I’ve been playing for about seven or eight years, and also the ukulele!
HC: Do you write your own songs? If so, how do you come up with your music?
I do write my own songs! I really just write from personal experiences and the people who inspire me to write them. It sounds cheesy but it’s true. I don’t try to fit into one certain style or be similar to one kind of artist.
HC: Where are some places you’ve played shows?
I’ve been performing shows since my freshman year in high school. My friend and I (the same friend I started singing with) performed for a benefit, after that we played more and more. We performed at the Illinois Marathon, high school events, restaurants and bars. We even got on our local radio station. My favorite place to perform is the subway though. It’s so interesting, really anyone can come up and listen to you. It’s a great experience.
HC: What’s your favorite aspect of being a student at UIC and living in Chicago?
I’m a member of the co-ed community service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and I’ve met a lot of really cool and different people. I love to volunteer and meeting people who also love to do the same thing is really great. I love living in Chicago because it’s so different than my hometown, I was able to branch out here and see all sorts of diversity and meet new people.