Going into Northeastern, I had a preconceived notion of what life would be like for a pre-med student. I thought that because I’d constantly be studying, I wouldn’t have time for friends or any of my hobbies. If you were to tell 8-year-old me, who loved to sing while jumping on the bed, that I would be making music in an on-campus studio while pursuing a medical career, I wouldn’t have believed you. 

One night in particular, I was more energetic than usual. When my dad came in to tuck me into bed for what had to be the fourth time, I eagerly asked him if I could become a singer. He said, “One day, you’ll be a star. You just need to be patient. Now go to bed, all those dreams will still be there when you wake up.” 

I never realized how much those words have stayed with me until now. 

Not long after this talk, I discovered my passion for neuroscience. This passion stemmed from a middle school assembly where the speaker was a man with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord that, in most cases, leads to paralysis. That same day after school, I went down a rabbit hole of different neurological disorders. What stood out the most was the lack of certainty that still surrounds them. 

Now, as a pre-med student, my love for music has constantly been tested because of the limited time I have to focus on it. I knew that coming into college, I needed to find extracurriculars that aligned with my goal of becoming a neurologist. So, I engaged in many of Northeastern’s opportunities, including research, mentorship and leadership. These activities have directly and  indirectly helped me gain skills that could benefit me in my career. 

Sadly, I didn’t get to engage in music until the spring semester of my second year. As my first year went on, I became busier and increasingly passionate about becoming a doctor. Before I knew it, I unconsciously decided to leave my dreams of making music behind. 

I do not remember what revived my passion to make music, but one day, I realized that medicine and music don’t have to be an “either or.” While music is about reaching people with the words I write and the stories I tell, it is also about mixing my passion for science and making a difference in others’ lives.

I sought help from Northeastern’s student-run label “Green Line Records,” which got me in touch with an aspiring student producer. I started releasing music in the spring semester of my second year under the stage name “Tochii.” 

However, I never stopped pursuing opportunities that would help me become a great doctor. 

Getting the chance to connect with patients and hearing their stories is a big part of why I started releasing music. As a co-op at Tufts Medical Center, I work as a Clinical Care Technician, or CTT, in the cardiovascular unit, assisting nurses in providing patient care. I also took the Northeastern Emergency Medical Technician, or EMT, course over the summer, which instantly became my favorite class and helped me use critical thinking in a time-sensitive manner, and recently got EMT certified. 

Music, and songwriting in particular, has helped me cope with the stressful and demanding nature of these experiences. I use it as an outlet. 

When people find out I am on the pre-med track and also release music, they usually respond with one of two things. For some, it is hard to grasp why I put myself through the process of creating music because it seems like a less practical, “dead-end” choice, and some say I should focus on studying for the MCATs. Others are amazed but a bit worried that I am wearing myself thin. 

But to me, any passion is worth making time for. 

In October, I released a song called “Never Get Me Back” about moving past painful experiences. It’s about an experience that initially left me feeling defenseless and, with time, I took back the power I thought someone stole. The strength I’ve gained by doing all my pre-med activities has allowed me to grow as a person and has given me the confidence to release these songs instead of being stuck playing back painful memories. 

I recently decided to work on an album composed of songs that describe my feelings throughout my college experience, mainly my second and third years. My goal is to release the album before I go to medical school. 

Knowing that I have music to turn to will make the long nights and high stress of medical school all the more bearable. 

Tochi Chukwuemeka is a third-year behavioral neuroscience and design major and contributor for The News. Tochi can be reached at chukwuemeka.t@northeastern.edu.

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