 I know that music makes me a very well-rounded person. It's something that I incorporate into my everyday life. I don't think of practicing as an assignment. Music is really my escape. What Yumiko has really taught me is how to really think critically about the music that I'm playing and not only perfect the notes and phrases that I'm playing, but also she's really helped me to think about what feeling I'm trying to convey to the audience. One of the greatest things about Gustavus is the relationships that students get to form with faculty. Many times in lessons it doesn't even seem like a professor-student relationship. It seems like we're collaborating. It seems like Yumiko cares greatly about my success not only as a musician but also as a student. And I know that Yumiko's not only a professor to me but also a friend. When I heard him for the first time I thought, wow, this is going to be the kid I'm going to send audition and competitions and stuff. And he said, I'm not interested in competitions much. I'm going to be a dentist. And I thought, okay. You know, one part of me kind of disappointed. At the same time, one part of me thought, well, this is Gustavus, just a typical student who can do so much things in him. It's exciting to support those people because these are the future generations. Gustavus really made space for me to be a well-rounded individual, not only in my academics but also in my extracurricular and social life. And at Gustavus I'm very involved in music and I'm also on the varsity swim team. Gustavus really allows me to have a diverse group of friends. Not only am I great friends with everyone on the swim team, but I also have my group of friends who are in chemistry and science classes with me, friends in my apartment building, friends from my fraternity. Eric is a person who's interested in so many things. Yes, I know he will become a dentist, but his love of music will never go away. Probably core part of liberal arts college education that music could be so important and part of this whole picture as a one-hole person.