SURPASSING EXPECTATIONS Joseph Cha, Photography editor The Norco Voice, December Issue, 2009 Can you remember what life was like when you were only 13 years-old? For many of us that means we were just starting out junior high school and maybe waking up early for Saturday morning cartoons. However, for Vanessa Sheldon, at 13 years-old, she was starting her first year in college. Professor Vanessa Sheldon is a new teacher who has joined the Riverside Community College- Norco music department. She teaches classes like Music Fundamentals and Beginner Piano. At only 24-years-old, many students are shocked when they realize how young she is Scott Horn, a second year at RCC Norco said, "Sheldon's teaching is interactive I suppose because of her age. I feel like I can relate to her more than just some old professor who I nod and say "Yes ma'am" to." Sheldon's mother used to play harp, but before she was born, her mother had already stopped playing. Fortunately, for Sheldon, her mother still kept the harp in the living room. At the young age of 9-years-old,her mother asked her what kind of instrument she would like to try, and to her great surprise, Sheldon said "the harp." The surprises did not end there. After only six months of playing Sheldon was performing in public and winning scholarships. "It's just something I believe I was meant to do and I enjoy the joy that it brings to my audiences when I perform. At one point,however, I did have to choose between continuing ballet or harp lessons, but I don't regret my decision," said Sheldon. When she turned 13, Sheldon became a student at Cal State Los Angeles. Graduating with her Bachelors and Masters degree and named the Cal State University System's youngest student to receive a graduate degree In 2005, at the age of 19, Sheldon received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Harp and Musicology from the University of Arizona. To add to her already notable resume, Sheldon said from her website, www.gold2ivory.com, "In addition to playing for such notables as Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Tippi Hedren, and Barbara Sinatra, I have played as an honorary guest at UCLA,for the Japanese Ambassador and Embassy, and appeared as guest artist with world-renown cellists Michael Cameron and Masatoshi Mitsumoto, as well as with the Anderson String Quartet." Sheldon shares some insight on what it really means to love what you do for a living, and hopefully this inspires us all to not settle for mediocrity, but to really strive to find our niche. "Others have used those words (genius, prodigy) to describe me, but I've never thought of myself that way. I believe everyone has their own talents and should use them to leave a positive impact on the world. I'm just blessed to be able to do what I love," says Sheldon.