LOS ALAMOS NATIVE WITH A VOICE

April 25, 2003

LOS ALAMOS NATIVE WITH A VOICE

Los Alamos native and Los Alamos High School graduate Holly Meyer has great plans for her future.

A sophomore at the University of New Mexico, Meyer is pursuing a major in vocal performance and intends to pursue a career in the visual arts including computer art/animation, illustration, 2-D animation, special effects art. She is also interested in the physical sciences and medicine.

After graduation Meyer hopes to pursue a master's degree in vocal performance or in the visual arts. Meyer was attracted to UNM for various reasons. Location was top on her list.

"I really enjoy being close to home but far enough away from my hometown to feel independent," she said. "I also love the wide variety of classes offered."

Besides getting acclimated to her studies at UNM she learned time management. "Many students have difficulty managing their schoolwork while still maintaining a social life," she said. "I actually have a hard time trying to fit all the classes I want to take into a workable schedule."

She has found her time at UNM to be beneficial both financially and emotionally.

"I was recruited into the voice program here and received a vocal scholarship from the Department of Music. That helped me make my decision as well as the fact that UNM is close to home and is, frankly, affordable."

During the summer Meyer takes advantage of UNM's branch campus in Los Alamos and attends classes there.

Meyer credits her mother for providing her with scholastic motivation.

"My mother has been a huge inspiration to me," Meyer said. "She is also a full-time student at UNM and is graduating this May. Simply her determination to go back to school has inspired me to do well in school and helped me to pursue what I want to do."

She also gives credit to her brother, a former US Marine, and her sister, a Linguist in the Air Force.

"They also inspire me to work hard," she said. "They don't have the opportunity to simply breeze through their jobs. So it has shown me that I, too, have to work hard. I have to be my own boss.

Meyer also received the bridge to success scholarship and was named to the Fall 2002 Dean's List at UNM.

Meyer is the daughter of Gloria Mack and Bruce Meyer.

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