{"id":317482,"date":"2018-05-14T14:46:42","date_gmt":"2018-05-14T18:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=317482"},"modified":"2018-05-15T16:22:38","modified_gmt":"2018-05-15T20:22:38","slug":"ivan-suminski-pursuing-multiple-passions-317482","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/ivan-suminski-pursuing-multiple-passions-317482\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing between violin, engineering, or both"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Three questions
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Favorite University tradition?<\/strong> \u201cMy favorite University tradition has to be Eastman\u2019s Holiday Sing. I recall in my freshman year I stumbled upon it; I had heard nothing about it previously. I turned the corner into Lowry Hall to find it absolutely packed with students and community members alike, while various student groups performed clever arrangements of everyone\u2019s favorite holiday songs!\u201d<\/p>\n

How have you changed since your first year?<\/strong> \u201cIn many ways, I pride myself on not having changed too drastically over the last four years. However, as my studies intensified in the last two years, I have had to more fiercely defend my social life, which I believe has been good for me. I do not believe it has been a detriment to my academic pursuits, but rather I think it helped keep me sane and grounded, preventing me from becoming overwhelmed! While I still maintain that the purpose of college is, first and foremost, an educational one, it should not be at the expense of a social life.\u201d<\/p>\n

What advice would you give to incoming students?<\/strong> \u201cBe involved, especially with things that you enjoy but also try to enjoy the things that are required of you. Remind yourself often how fortunate you are to be here . . . it\u2019ll be over before you know it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Making their mark: This is one in a series<\/a> of profiles celebrating members of Rochester\u2019s graduating class of 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n

Earlier this spring, Ivan Suminski \u201918, \u201918E found himself in an enviable dilemma.<\/p>\n

The paths he could follow were manifold. Should he apply to graduate school to continue his violin studies or to research the biophysics of the inner ear? Or should he instead apply for an engineering job, knowing that a company would likely pay for him to go to graduate school later?<\/p>\n

All were valid options, thanks to the mechanical engineering and violin performance degrees he had been working toward simultaneously through the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½\u2019s Dual Degree with Eastman program.<\/p>\n

But now his path is clear. Suminski will attend the University of Michigan School of Music this fall to continue his violin studies. And no wonder. Ask him what he\u2019d most like to be doing 15 years from now, and there\u2019s no hesitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dream would be to perform in a string quartet, in addition to teaching. The likelihood of that happening is pretty slim, but I have a pretty safe backup with my engineering degree,\u201d the native of Traverse City, Michigan, says.<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, Suminski\u2019s academic program has been demanding. Rochester\u2019s accredited engineering curriculum includes a heavy load of required courses, which must be followed sequentially, leaving little \u201cwriggle\u201d room to fall behind. In addition, it culminates in a senior design project that can be time consuming.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, Suminski, who is a McLaughlin Scholar and a Walawender Scholar, has practiced the violin two to three hours a day to prepare for his senior recital required for his music performance major\u2014while also playing six hours a week in an orchestra, taking lessons, and completing classes in theory and history.<\/p>\n

Suminski has not only excelled academically but also has found time to serve others. Active in the University\u2019s Catholic Newman Community, he organized and led a service trip to Frenchville, Pennsylvania, to help elderly residents with yard work and other chores.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome had had really bad experiences trying to go into nursing homes and, as a result, were fiercely independent but still needed help just living on their own,\u201d Suminski says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe interesting thing I learned on that trip is how we conceive of poverty. There is certainly financial poverty. But there are other kinds of poverty. There\u2019s the need for human connection for some of these people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along the way he\u2019s made some additional discoveries:<\/p>\n