We are publishing the last portrait of a Saint-Martin student who left the island to study.
• First name: Moana
• Age : 30
• Study : Bachelor in Music
• Place of residence: Los Angeles
• Professional ambition: Musician
What is your background ?
I passed my Baccalaureate S in 2007, then I finished my Bachelor of Music at Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2011. From there I moved to Los Angeles. Since then, I've been teaching, studio singer and songwriter. I also regularly go on contracts or tours around the world.
How did you make the decision to leave Saint-Martin to study?
Berklee is the world's most renowned school for modern music. In addition, my piano teacher from Saint-Martin (Paul Emmanuel) himself studied there and encouraged me a lot. I did a summer program after high school to see how I felt. The school, the teachers, the networking, and the city convinced me.
When you left Saint-Martin, what was your feeling?
It was tough, honestly. I knew this school was full of the most talented musicians in the world and I was afraid I would fall short. My parents and grandparents had raised enough money to pay for only the first year, so I was apprehensive about financial difficulties as well. Beyond that, I was in a relationship at the time and the idea of a long-distance relationship terrified me. And then, the language barrier was not reassuring either: my Saint-Martin English was not yet up to the task of understanding technical, legal terms, etc. I didn't know how things worked in the USA: between finding an apartment, opening a bank account or a phone line… And having never seen snow, I was really afraid of not being able to survive the climate.
Have you encountered any difficulties? If so, which ones and how did you overcome them?
I arrived in January, so in the middle of winter. My father came with me to settle down. I remember telling him that I couldn't see how I would one day adapt to the snow and that I couldn't stand this cold. Then, the problem was to understand how things worked outside the school: I had a few days to put everything in place and I did not understand absolutely nothing about the bail of my apartment, my telephone contract, my health insurance, etc. Once classes started I had an inferiority complex so I spent sleepless nights studying. And then, as my financial situation was precarious, I took jobs on campus, then an internship, at the same time as the lessons, so I didn't have a lot of free time.
Since you left, what is your fondest memory?
Even though it was hard, it was the best decision of my life. Student jobs taught me a lot of things that I could then put on my CV. And I found scholarships, so I was able to finish my seven semesters and graduate. I have met people from all over the world who are as interesting as they are talented. Now, I find contracts anywhere on the world map, and there's always someone I know there! My favorite memory is pretty general, but it's being able to travel doing what I love.
What advice would you give to Saint-Martin high school graduates who are reluctant to leave?
The more you are afraid of something, the more you will learn from the experience that comes out of it. Saint-Martin is a tiny part of the world and you'll appreciate it all the more when you see how things work elsewhere. It's never too late to come back if you don't like it. Do not hesitate to contact people on site or in the school that interests you to tell them about their experience.
(soualigapost.com)
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