Alumni

Sense of Pride

Learning to lead at Oakland University

Oakland University alumna and elementary teacher, Julia Music

Excellent Educator

icon of a calendarJune 5, 2018

icon of a pencilBy Jacob Walters

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A bachelor’s degree in elementary education unexpectedly prepared Julia W. Music, SEHS ’01, for her true calling as a community leader.

“I had to take the dreaded communications course and work on five speeches. But that gave me the confidence I needed to be a strong voice for my community,” says Music, who has since become a recognized LGBTQAI activist as chair of the Ferndale, Michigan, Ferndale Pride street fair.

“Pride is an empowering day for everyone where people can walk through the streets and be themselves without fear of judgment.”

For Music, empowerment started in the classroom at OU. “Oakland University is a great opportunity to learn from professors who actually teach students directly,” she says. “It was important that the classes were tailored to get students what they needed.”

In Music’s case, a sense of purpose naturally blossomed from there.

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