Future Visions of Maya Stolper
Who is Maya Stolper?
Maya is an 18 year old freshman at Montclair State University and is from Closter, New Jersey. In the past, she has always found a home in her English classes because of her love of writing and determination towards improving her skills. She also loves making connections with other people and often finds herself reminiscing on the times she would have random conversations with people in stores or on the street during covid-free times. Maya also has a true passion for music and the artists she loves. She probably misses live music the most right now because it allows her to feel connected to a community of people who share the same interests as her.
Maya’s Interests
Some of Maya’s interests include making playlists, attempting to play the guitar, and editing videos. Maya has been a Spotify user since 2015 and has been making monthly playlists ever since then. The reason she finds herself always making a playlist for the month is because she likes the idea of being able to document her energy and feelings during that month in the form of music. For example, this month, December, she has the song Come A Little Closer by Cage the Elephant on her playlist. This is because the lyrics, to her, can be interpreted as feeling that one is starting to see humanity and our planet as it is. She feels that it is important to listen to songs that convey her feelings and often compares it to the therapy that journaling often brings her.
Maya started getting guitar lessons in seventh grade, but when her family life started to experience some shaking up, she decided that she had too much on her plate to keep up with the lessons and practicing. At the time it seemed like a good idea, but now looking back, she really regrets not continuing those lessons because by now she would probably be really good at guitar. Ever since the start of quarantine she has felt a sense of guilt about not continuing those lessons, so she decided to pick up her guitar and start teaching herself how to play. She teaches herself through different apps and learns songs through youtube tutorials. She still has a lot to learn, but is committed to making up for lost time and trying to become proficient in the instrument.
Her video editing journey started in the summer between seventh and eighth grade when she downloaded the free trial of Final Cut Pro. She started editing videos together of her favorite musicians in the style of a Vine post, otherwise known as a seven second video. She would spend hours learning how to make new transitions and researching to find the perfect clips to use. These seven second videos would take well over a day to complete, and she always felt so fulfilled after finishing one. Eventually, she realized that this was something she could bring to her professional life, and had a few clients that she edited videos for. One was for a post-mastectomy bra company for breast cancer survivors, one was for a digital marketing company, and the third was for a social media influencer.
Professional Goals
Maya is a student in the School of Communication and Media and is majoring in Communication and Media Arts. She chose this major because she one day hopes to become a band or tour manager and feels that getting a degree in communications, while hopefully becoming a member of the radio station on campus, could help her reach her potential in school, while preparing her for the knowledge she will gain from hands on experience in the industry itself. Maya feels that entering a career that combines her love of organization, music, and getting to know people would be the best fit for her. Although she is still unsure of where to start, she hopes to gain a lot of experience throughout college. She really hopes to have the opportunity to intern with companies in the music industry, and would especially love if those internships were in New York City, which is where she hopes to move after college. Maya hopes to make many connections during her career at Montclair State and has a lot of hope for herself and her future endeavors in the music industry.
