Name: Kim Skerritt
Year: Class of 2010
Hometown: Herndon, VA
Major: Political Science, minor in Museums and Society
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A cappella has been infused in every aspect of my college life. I’ve always been a singer. I planned on trying out for a variety of music groups in college, but I didn’t expect that the one I joined would affect my entire undergraduate experience.
I still remember the day I tried out for the Vocal Chords. They were so friendly and smiley, it made the entire auditioning process not as overwhelming as it could have been. After the 15 minutes of singing, I had to wait 9 hours to find out whether I got called back. It was so stressful, and to make things worse my friend (of four days at the time) played a joke and called me to say I didn’t make callbacks. In reality, I did. The next day, I had been asked to join the group. After saying yes, spent the next hour calling family and friends with the good news. I was so exhausted by the end of the night I passed out and missed the call from the Vocal Chords to meet for the first time.
Because I joined so close to the beginning of freshman year, I automatically became really good friends with them. As a person from a very strong family unit at home, VC (Vocal Chords) became my family at Hopkins. 7 hours of practice a week turns into so much more time spent together. We do everything together: live, eat, watch movies, go see other a cappella concerts, etc (I have actually lived with two different member of VC for the past 3 years).
One of the best things about being in a small but diverse group is that you end up becoming friends with people you may never encounter in the first place. The Vocal Chords is made up of all different majors from all different years. As a freshman I was the only one in my group of hall mates to have upperclassmen friends. And now as a senior, I know many more freshmen than I would have.
I find practice like brain break. After spending all day at class or work, I look forward to doing something I love with people I love. It’s true that every semester we work towards a final concert, but really it’s just a fun way to show-off what we like to do.
There are these moments I have during practice. I called them “epiphanies.” It’s when I have this feeling of inner joy and awe because I am standing with my friends making this beautiful music with just our bodies. That is one of the most wonderful things about singing. It is something you cannot buy, and it is something that everyone can relate to.
As a senior, I know my time with the Chords is coming to an end, only one more wonderful semester together. I know I will be sad, but at the same time I have had such an amazing experience singing in this group that I can’t wait to give more students the opportunity I had. When I remember my time at Hopkins I will always think of my Vocal Chords first.
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