Jemima Verebasaga

Introduction to Me

Hi, My name is Jemima Verebasaga and I am a 10th grade student at Raven Correspondence School in Juneau, Alaska. I am one of the High School Teaching Assistants here at JAMM and currently I help out with the Copland Violinists. While I love to explore with many instruments, my main instrument is the violin and I have been playing it for 11 years now. As of right now, the only musical instruction I am receiving is through private lessons with Mr. Franz. Hobbies and Interests of mine include many things such as travelling, practicing driving, photography, writing, watching children, discovering new trails, and meeting new people. Juneau has been my home for 13 wonderful years and I am so grateful for all the opportunities that this lovely community has given me.

Music: In my eyes

I was born into a very musical family so it was natural instinct for me to almost instantly fall in love with the concept of singing and using musical instruments. For me, music is one of the best ways that I am able to express myself. Music is also a coping mechanism, whether it be through playing the violin or picking up the ukulele and coming out of it with a song. Music is a gift and it radiates the same happiness as a child when they're opening a brand new toy that they had been wanting for a very long time. Music is not only a connection to the past but it is also a bridge-builder and barrier-breaker between different communities, cultures and people with all different backgrounds. Without music, this world would feel empty. Music is life and it is a defining factor of who I am.

My Involvement with JAMM

I have been a part of JAMM since 2010 when I was a 5 year old Kindergarten student; I was one of the many students in the very first group of JAMM. I still remember the very first time I picked up a real violin and that is something I will forever cherish. When I was in 5th grade, I remember Dr. Heagy asked some of us if we'd be interested in becoming teaching assistants and that we would primarily be helping the first grade JAMMers. After going into middle school a few friends and I decided to keep going back to Glacier Valley and help out with the elementary students because we love being a part of JAMM. Over the years JAMM has expanded it's programs to two other schools, Riverbend and Auke Bay. Due to the convenience of location, in middle school we only helped at Glacier Valley. However, now that we are high school students the majority of us now work at Riverbend. I personally however was very fortunate to be able to help at both schools. This school year, for safety precautions in consideration of preventing the spread of Covid-19 we are mainly online. It has been a wonderful opportunity because I am finally able to work with students from all three schools and watch them form new relationships with each other that they might not have otherwise had. I am excited to see what the future holds for JAMM and I am so glad to still be a part of it.

Plans for the Future

As a high school student, I have been thinking a lot about my future, especially as next year is the year to start taking SATs and applying for Colleges. My plans for the future use to seem like they would constantly change but recently my plans are starting to become more firm. My plan is to start attending dual-enrollment college courses next semester so that I can begin a steady path for the future. Technically, if I get 7 more high school credits next year I would have enough to graduate early. However, I would like to stay within the program so that in my senior year I can focus specifically on those dual-enrollment courses. Within the next couple of years, I would like to find a second job that can be flexible with my JAMM schedule. I would like to continue working with JAMM up until I eventually move out of Juneau. While I love it here, I would also like to go to new places and to start a new life somewhere else. After I graduate high school, I am hoping to get at least a bachelors degree in education, so I can pursue my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. I have been looking at colleges quite a bit lately and I am planning on going to one of the Universities of Alaska, so that I can take advantage of in-state tuition but I have also been looking at schools in Washington. Once I graduate college, I would like to find a teaching position, preferably with elementary students, and begin a life long career of being a teacher. Within my lifetime, I would also like to visit my family in Fiji and other parts of the world. Eventually, I would like to start a family and to become a mother.