Sigma Alpha Iota

12 Winter 2025 • sai-national.org Profeial Develment A ttending the National Association of Teachers Singing (NATS) National Conference was both exhilarating and daunting. Surrounded by what I fondly refer to as "Vocal Royalty"—individuals whose books I've read, interviews I've watched, and work I've admired for years—I felt both awe-inspired and intimidated. The thought of sharing a room with these esteemed professionals was overwhelming, but the atmosphere at the conference was incredibly welcoming. I felt a sense of belonging and camaraderie that I've never experienced before as I mingled with others who shared my passion for teaching voice. The NATS National Conference is a renowned event in the vocal teaching community, drawing educators and professionals from across the globe. The conference was filled with networking opportunities, from reunions and affinity groups to casual coffee breaks. These moments allowed me to have meaningful interactions and exchange ideas with my peers and mentors in the field, which enriched my experience and helped to expand my professional network. I was thrilled to finally meet my mentor from the 2023 NATS Mentoring Collaborative program, Dr. Sarah Holman, in person after seeing each other numerous times over Zoom. Even though there was an expiration date on the mentoring program, I feel I have found a lifelong mentor in her. One of the highlights of the conference for me was meeting SAI member Cynthia Vaughn at the National Mentoring Collaborative Reunion. She was incredibly kind and open, and genuinely interested in hearing the mentees' thoughts and ideas about our experiences in the mentoring program, as was everyone else who had served as a mentor. Following that initial encounter, it seemed like we kept bumping into each other everywhere— whether in sessions, in the halls between sessions, as we were leaving the hotel where most attendees were staying, and even hilariously in the restroom. It felt like we were meant to connect. We eventually ended up sharing a dinner together, along with a mentor of mine who originally invited me to the conference. During our conversation, I discovered she's an SAI! We really do have a way of finding each other. Affinity groups at NATS offer a space to meet like-minded individuals with similar experiences and purposes. The affinity group that particularly interested me was the "Independent and Multi-Teacher Studio Owner." Although I was the youngest studio owner in the room, I felt a strong sense of belonging and support. The room was filled with introductions, questions, and ideas, as well as shared experiences. It is not often openly discussed how isolating this career can be. I spend most of my teaching hours in my studio or practice room, so connecting with others who share similar experiences and gaining insight from them was incredibly enriching. The validation and affirmation of our self-worth as private voice teachers that I felt here really nurtured my well-being. I want to reference an analogy used by the keynote speaker, Nicole Robinson, who discussed the difference between equality and equity. She illustrated this with an example of three different plants, each receiving an equal amount of water but not flourishing in the same way because each plant had different needs. She then showed how the plants thrived when they received the varying amounts of water they actually required. She used this analogy to help us reflect on the systemic issues that need to be addressed, and it was beneficial for everyone to have A Dream Realized My Journey to the NATS National Conference NATS Mentor Dr. Sarah Holman NATS Mentor Dr. Sarah Holman and Britnee Simone at the 2024 National and Britnee Simone at the 2024 National NATS Conference. NATS Conference.

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