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Biography
January 22, 2017
Personal Biography
My name is Tracy Earl James Jr., born and raised in Norfolk, VA, and I am on my
journey to becoming a Music Educator. June 15th, 2012, I graduated from Bayside High School
in Virginia Beach, VA. A few months after that I attended Chowan University, located in
Murfreesboro, NC, as a Biology Major on the Allied Health Track. Though I was a Biology
Major at the time, I did stay very much involved with singing. So I auditioned for the choir, and
that was the best decision I made. Two semesters completed, and I was still just a Biology Major
singing with the choir, but then something changed; at the beginning of my sophomore year my
choral director at the time had pulled me aside and asked me, "Why are you not a majoring in
Music?" and he continued with, "I always see you practicing, and you memorize your music very
well. I see dedication in your eyes and we need future educators like you out there." That was a
huge turning point in my life. I had many questions, not only about what I was going to do, but if
this was my calling or not? Sleepless days and nights had gone by, and when I had made peace
with what I had to do, I felt like I was becoming what I was destined to be, a Music Educator.
After that choice was made, I decided to take a year break from college so that I could re-
evaluate some things in my life. Once that year was over, my eyes were wide open to a whole
new world that I didn't think I would be ready for, but all that changed once I became a
Transfer student at Old Dominion University, Majoring in Music Education with a focus in
Voice. With two semesters down, and currently in my third, not only have I maintained being
an Honor Student, but I have become more enthusiastic with my talent and my calling
for educating future generations about music and the places it will take them. With every day that
goes by I learn more about music, and the more I am involved with the Church Choir, my A
Cappella group, and everything else I do with music makes me feel closer to my goal. Though I
have not had any teaching experiences just yet, I thoroughly look forward to the day I begin to
observe in the school system so that I can grow as a musician and future educator. This is my
calling and nothing is going to stop me. My journey is just beginning, for you can never stop
learning.