The Perfect Harmony
A glimpse into the the life of a young woman who finds solace in music
As her feet tapped against the cracked floors and the rhythm filled her ears, the thought of music brought comfort to the young girl. Plugging in her earbuds in times of despair, she silenced the noise of the classroom with a mind full of songs.
Mandonnah Mahallati, now a Montclair State University student, has spent the majority of her college career locked away in a radio station, hosting music shows. She remembers her early years in high school when music was her comforter.
“Music was there for me when no one else understood,” she says.
Entering university, she decided that her focus would shift from music to her academics. It wasn’t an issue, because she was able to share her passion for music with others through the WMSC-FM student radio station.
No longer in a choir or any theatrical groups, activities she had enjoyed in high school, she had moments on campus to expand her musical horizons. Throughout her two years in Montclair, she explored different genres in music and even grew a bond with Electronic Dance Music (EDM).
Though music was not a career she decided to pursue, she has never lost her love for it. Incorporating music into her daily life was a choice she made. Singing in showers, belting out Broadway hits on an empty stage, even humming a tune brought euphoria to her.
“I didn’t need to pursue music to appreciate the value it has or to keep it relevant, because it will always be with me,’’ she states.
Spending hundreds of dollars on tickets to support her favorite musicians was a natural occurrence even while in debt. She didn’t believe that happiness had a price tag.
She acknowledges music as a “piece of her life” because of her long history with it. Crediting her sanity to lyrics and her motivation to a rhythm.
“Music is priceless”- Mandonnah Mahallati
