#PROFspective: Music Industry major Luis Vera

Today, we speak with Luis Vera, a junior Music Industry major from Bridgeton, NJ (Cumberland County) who commutes. Luis will share his #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student and how he’s getting the most out of his college experience as a Rowan Prof.

Name: Luis VeraLuis Vera posing outside of Rowans Campbell Library.
Major: Music Industry
Minor or concentration: Music Technology
Year: Junior

Transfer Student: Yes, I transferred in From Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA.
Hometown and County: Bridgeton, NJ (Cumberland County)
Commuter: Yes, commuting from home

Do you work off campus?: I work at Walgreens and I’m a Designated Hitter, which means I’m the in between of Pharmacy and the front of store.

Luis playing his guitar on a bench outside of Wilson Hall.Share an “a ha!” moment you’ve had within your major that made you feel passionate about your intended field. My “a ha” moment was definitely when I was tracking my second project for Audio Recording II and I finally felt comfortable in the studio again. Especially when it came to navigating pro-tools well again.

Describe for us an experience you’ve shared with a professor in which you felt like you were working with a visionary in your field. I sat down with my Audio professor Jeff Hiatt to discuss decisions made on a few projects and the way he quickly made tracks sound the way they were supposed to and the different techniques he recommended and showed me was just brilliant. From that hour long conversation we had, I felt like I stepped my work up an entire level when I employed what he recommended. It was wild.

Describe for us an on-campus experience (academic or non-academic) in which you felt that your future goalsLuis posing on the steps on Wilson Hall. are supported. I think the best experience I had was when I was working on the mix for my band’s (Corporate Dreamboat) EP and my professor Jeet Paul sat and listened with me and offered some very simple alterations that improved a lot. It was really nice to feel that my professors were interested in what I was doing.

Could you share a moment you’ve experienced in which you have felt that Rowan is a welcoming environment for you? Every day is a welcoming experience. Between all the staff that reach out to you, even if you aren’t in their class, to all my peers in my classes who are really nice and really into their majors. It’s really pleasant. 

Why did you choose Rowan? I felt Rowan’s music industry program was in a phase of massive growth and was really starting to pick up steam, and I wanted to be a part of that. I also felt that a lot of the staff I was introduced to were incredibly brilliant and I wanted to work with them. Plus, Rowan being closer to home was a plus as well.

Luis playing the guitar in one of Wilson Halls studios.What’s your favorite thing about your typical Monday at Rowan? My favorite thing about my typical Rowan Monday is that even though it is the earliest day of my school week, I get quick parking and I get to see a lot of my favorite people right after a busy weekend at Walgreens. It’s really nice because usually every Monday I get to hang out with my friend Stella or my friend Rose and get/make food, and then just watch TV or go to Goodwill or something. It’s usually a pretty chill day.

On your busiest day, what academic, non-academic and social responsibilities are you juggling? Tuesdays are the worst. I usually have an appointment or something in the morning since I don’t have class till 11. Then I’m usually trying my best to finish up some class work or some design work before band practice which starts around 2 ends usually a half hour before my night class which is 3 hours long. Then I have to decide if I’m driving home or melting into a friends’ couch so I don’t fall asleep on the way home. Somehow, I find time to eat in between that wild mess.

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Story and photos by:
Alyssa Bauer, junior public relations major