GDC Part 2, Week 3: From Musician to Financier

The heroine of the interview is my older sister. She has always been an example for me and a great authority. Her name is Aimira.

She is a former professional musician - violinist and current financial advisor. For more than 12 years Aimira studied at a specialized musical institution, showed good results, sat as a concertmaster(the 2nd person after conducter) in several orchestras.

After graduating from musical school and college, Aimira decided to change her profession to something more serious. Thus, she decided to leave Kazakhstan and move to Canada to proceed studying as a financier, which she successfully achieved. After 3.5 years, after graduating from the "University of Windsor", she remained in Canada and began looking for a job, which led her to the position of financial advisor in one of the largest banks in Canada after another 3 years.

INTERVIEW :

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself

I am a working mom. I love my daughter more than anything in the world, but I am also focused on my career growth and development. I was an international student just like many of you when I arrived to a new country and started studying. I am a patriot and love my country, but I am also a proud citizen of Canada. I am a fan of classical music, arts, good food and literature.

2. What first got you into music?

My mom. She is a musician herself and wanted to make sure I study music at least until college, “and then you can do whatever you want”. I started playing violin when I was 8 and got accepted to music academy a year later.

3. What is the rationale and role of music education in the middle school curriculum in your opinion?

I think music is important in every stage of child’s development, whether it is early years or school. It teaches kids discipline and time management. Music develops imagination and curiosity. And it’s not only music. I encourage everyone to pursue their interests, whether it is music, sports, cooking or reading. Having different interests in life will make you more open minded, intelligent and interesting as an individual.

4. Describe your music school time. Did you enjoy that past?

As a child, I obviously wanted to be out with my friends all the time and didn’t want to practice music. I would complain that my mom deprived me of normal childhood since I had to be stuck at home and practice music after school. I became really interested in music only in grade 9. That’s when I started listening to famous violinists; it was fascinating to listen how each musician would interpret same music piece in different ways. I started practising more and enjoyed it. This is the lesson I learned in my school and university years: you have to be curious, absorb as much knowledge as you can and don’t waste time on something you don’t like.

5. Did the rivalry push you to practice harder?

There is a lot of competition in every field, especially music and arts. It definitely shaped me to be a competitive person, and probably did push me to practice harder in school.

6. Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety? Are you stress-resistant?

Yes, I’ve dealt with performance anxiety. Being in music definitely pushed me out of my shell: we had to perform at exams, auditions and concerts on monthly basis. There was a lot of pressure to do well, get a perfect score or perform the piece in the best way possible. I learned to cope with stress, keep myself calm and do well under pressure. It helped with my current job and with public speaking (was never a fan of public speaking either).

7. I know you changed your specialty. What drew you to change your profession?

After graduating from music academy, I changed my major in university to finance. I decided to do this because I knew I wouldn’t be the best violinist. I didn’t possess enough talent to become the touring soloist and I didn’t want to be mediocre in what I do. I still utilize the skills I obtained as a musician with my current job: discipline and drive to constantly learn.

8. Tell about your relocation to Canada and the beginning of a new life? Which profession did you choose and why you decided to stay in Canada?

I arrived to Canada to obtain undergrad degree in business administration. I was originally planning to come back home after graduation. Being on my own for the first time was difficult. Being in a different country added another layer to it: I was learning to take care of myself and also adjust to new environment. There were a lot challenges in the beginning; I’m sure many first-year students can relate. But I realized that I love the mentality and culture here, and related to the competitive, career-oriented spirit of Toronto. I decided to stay in Canada because I love this country, and also because it gave me a chance to achieve my life and career goals on my own.

9. Did your skills (diligence, industry), which you acquired through music education, help you to adapt to a new place faster?

Yes, my background in music and the skills I developed helped me adjust to new job faster. I do well under pressure, I prioritize and manage my time well. And it helps me connect with clients who have similar interests or are working/studying music.

10. Where do you work and what kind of position you hold now?

I work in one of Canada’s largest banks as a financial advisor. I get to meet different people: students, young professionals, successful business owners, retirees, and so on. I get to help them with their life goals such as buying their dream house and saving for their child’s education. I help clients with the next stages in their lives whether it is starting a new career, retire or study. I also enjoy helping new immigrants who just arrived to Canada since I’ve been through this experience.

11. Do you regret that you got musical education?

No, I don’t regret getting education in music. It made me more creative, curious and open-minded. I hope my daughter will appreciate it as much as I did when I grew up.