Since she was six years old Jennifer Gabrielcik has been a musician.

It was something that was passed down from her parents to her, and it started with the piano, progressing to percussion.

“I like hitting things and making loud noises if that makes sense,” Gabrielcik said.

As a senior forensic science major, one of the highlights for Gabrielcik was when she was selected to go to Intercollegiate Band for Pennsylvania which selects the best students from different colleges across Pennsylvania. Only 28 people were selected to come out and play this year, but as one of the few who wasn’t a music major in some form, this was an outstanding experience for Gabrielcik.

“It was pretty good. There are so many people there who are music majors doing this for a living, and me being [forensic] science, I know I am not the best percussion ever,” Gabrielcik said, “but it’s fun to play with people who are really good.”

Gabrielcik, who grew up in a music home and was selected as one of the best in Pennsylvania, is not a music major, but her passion for music may not be as big as her passion for forensic science.

“I have a bigger passion for science, I guess,” Gabrielcik said.

She thought about picking up a music minor but didn’t have the space necessary in her schedule. A forensic science major obviously has to know a lot of science and that can become overwhelming for anybody, but for Gabrielcik, band was always able to calm her down and relieve some stress.

“I’m kind of glad I’m done, because it gets progressively more stressful with all the science it’s harder and more depth, but band has helped me a lot just the two nights a week we meet,” Gabrielcik said.

Staring down the tunnel towards the end of the journey, Gabrielcik, vice president of band, almost never made it this far as there was a lot of fear this may not have been the right choice for her.

“I was scared at first, but as I was adjusting to college, I realized I had to be there,” Gabrielcik said, “I think it went away after Christmas break my first year, because I knew I wasn’t going to transfer. I was going to stick with band and everything, and I knew I liked my major and didn’t want to switch.”

She is happy she stayed, because along with enjoying her time with school activities, the friends she has made will stay with her for a life time.

Gabrielcik hasn’t found a job yet, but she’s still looking in the Pittsburgh area. She hasn’t yet decided to continue band, but knows she will always be welcomed back to Waynesburg.

“There are community bands around that I can do,” Gabrielcik said. “I can come back here and play with them, as she calls people all the time, because we need more bodies. We need more sound.”