Finding Meaning in Music
Gary Glass says playing guitar and piano keeps him honest
Name: Gary GlassPosition: Associate director for outreach and developmental programming, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)Years at Duke: 8
What I do at Duke: Part of my job is providing counseling, but a bulk of my job as outreach director is to come up with ways to translate healing and wisdom lessons that come from my confidential meetings with students into the campus environment. We see between 12 and 13 percent of graduate and undergraduate students at Duke at CAPS.
Read MoreIf I had $5 million, I would: Divide it between strengthening public schools in the area, supporting groups that help homeless and contribute to independent musicians and artists. I think education and music go hand-in-hand. Artists can't help but be honest, and educators relate to us in communities, so if we strengthen the arts and education, maybe having more integrity as a society would lead to less homelessness.
My first ever job: I was a clerk at Garrick’s Office Supply in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I worked there the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college. I took the job because I felt like that’s what you’re supposed to do. My parents were putting me through college. I still remember the first time I ever saw a paycheck – this formal piece of paper with my name on it.
My dream job: To be a touring folk singer/songwriter. Music keeps me honest. I play guitar and piano, but if it were my dream, I’d want to learn as many other instruments as I could. I enjoy playing the kinds of songs that let me express what I see and feel and who I love.
If someone wanted to start a conversation with me they should ask me about: What my favorite music is at that particular hour or what’s sacred to me, like music. Music allows us to find all the different manifestations of how we’re connected, which is why I value it.
The best advice I ever received: When I was in college I was confused about what I was going to be and a career counselor told me you don’t have to do things just because you’re good at them and it stayed with me. I changed my major nine times before I graduated, but I’ve never had any idea what boredom feels like. I’ve always had these different parts of me that couldn’t agree with what to do next.
What I love about Duke: The utter creativity of a million brilliant students. They’re so intelligent in nuanced ways. I never host a program or event without hearing a question from a new angle I wouldn’t have thought of. The sheer potential that’s in this place is awe-inspiring.
When I’m not at work, I like to: Go on hikes that reward me with a really big view of mountains and listening to or making music.
An interesting day at work for me: This happens maybe a dozen times a semester, but I’ll have lunch with a student and hear all these brilliant things and I leave thinking I cant believe this is my job.