Norma Jean Haynes AC ’23
Meet the Majors
Other clubs, sports and activities you’d like to mention:
I'm a proud Ada Comstock Scholar.
What about the French language do you find most appealing?
Without a doubt, the best thing about the French language is to hear it spoken by a young child. While studying abroad in Paris, I lived with a four-year-old, who has been—to date—my best and most honest French teacher.
What was a memorable moment from a trip abroad?
I had an incredible experience this summer in Corsica, an island to the south of France, hiking and studying traditional choral singing. I spent 10 days hiking alone on the GR20, a renowned trail that spans the island from north to south, where I used my French to communicate with my hosts and fellow hikers along the way.
What do you see as a potential future dream job or career?
I have a lot of interests, passions, and goals, but I see myself as a music teacher at the base. In my career, I am excited to continue exploring the intersections of music and community from as many angles as possible: as a performer and songwriter, educator, researcher, and writer. I hope to tour as a performer, playing original music in English and French; to continue traveling, studying the performing arts in diverse contexts around the world. I also look forward to working as a music educator, taking what I have learned and using it to grow creative communities.
Do you have a favorite saying in French or a quote that you think more people should know?
A little phrase I learned when I was in Paris was "ma madeleine de Proust." In his book À la recherche du temps perdu, Marcel Proust writes famously about the experience of eating a madeleine cake that transports him back to his childhood. Your "madeleine de Proust" is whatever food conveys you back to a beloved childhood memory.
