May 11, 2021
By: Franco LaTona
As he prepares for the next chapter, Butler School of Music senior Nicholas Ryland has mixed feelings about moving on. Set to graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance, Ryland said he’ll miss the community and support he’s received as a Butler School student, but is curious to explore performance opportunities in a “new normal” of in-person shows.
He’s up for the challenge. Diagnosed with asperger syndrome (a form of autism) as a toddler, Ryland is no stranger to overcoming obstacles, and a year of remote learning was tough at times. We caught up with him recently to discuss it as well as his thoughts on bringing awareness to those with developmental disorders, and plans for the future.
For those who don't know much about developmental disorders, can you describe what it’s like to live with asperger syndrome?
Well, it's basically an intellectual disability, so I tend to learn things differently than a lot of other people, and I tend to misunderstand things that people say. So, someone might say something that makes no sense to me and people are laughing at me, and I'm like, ‘why is that funny? I have no idea what that means.’ I also vent to people a lot, so I'll say ‘I've been going through these things,’ and some people are just like, ‘hey, that's cool, but I'm not the person you want to vent to.’ But then there are people who are actually willing to listen to me vent and then give me suggestions. Those are the kinds of people I tend to talk to the most because I know they may not have the answer I want, but they help guide me along.
What would you like people to know most about those living with some form of autism?
We're all human, and we all deserve to be treated the same way. We deserve the same kind of respect and the same kind of sympathy and attention that anyone else would get. It's getting a lot of awareness in recent years, but I feel like there's a lot more that could be done about advocating for it.
How were you doing in school before the pandemic hit?
I don't think my academics changed [much] since COVID hit, but prior to it, it was easier for me to ask for help in class. I was able to interact more with my classmates and therefore gain some type of knowledge that way.
What was your experience when the pandemic first hit?
Being a kid with this kind of diagnosis, it hits different. Like, people always just assume that it's hard for everybody. Well, for people like me, I may react to social situations differently, but this was hard! I couldn't see anybody. Like, I was just glued to my computer for however long the quarantine period was. And to add salt to the wound, I have a part time job in my church--I'm a section leader for the adult choir--but I couldn’t go there because my parents were really cautious about me exposing myself to the virus. But, I tell my friends all the time, even though my dogs are little brats, they're always comforting and they always give me a sense of peace.
How did it impact your study habits?
I haven't been as distracted as I was prior to COVID hitting everything, but If I were to be completely honest, I tend to procrastinate sometimes, and so I've just had to find creative ways to break that procrastination.
Like what?
I listen to music; I'm reading a novel for my literature class, so I'll write down some poetry or I'll play piano, play guitar, try some new instruments and see how that practice compares to what I've been doing. So, I think as long as you can be creative with the way you break procrastination, you can still be successful.
How has remote learning impacted your singing practice?
Well, I moved into my apartment about a full year ago now, and I got acquainted with my practice space in my apartment. It's actually pretty nice. I don't have to wear a mask while I'm singing. But also, it's kind of been tough for me because normally for my major, I have to be in a vocal ensemble, and I have to give a final performance, so being able to practice music with others was basically, I guess, an oasis away from all the school work, so that’s been difficult. But we put on a couple of small scale productions on campus with safety protocols.
Where have you found support this year?
My professors are good at giving a lot of resources for us to use if we're ever stressed out. I think one of the reasons why I wanted to go to the Butler School in the first place was because I was well aware of how supportive the community is here. But I was really surprised with how they’re supportive, and I think that's made a major difference these past four years, whether we've been in person or not.
I'm also in an off campus apartment, which is actually right across the street from my parents. So, like, I go there to eat a lot of meals. Sometimes if my wifi doesn't work, I'll go there to do work or help babysit my siblings. So, family is important to me, and that’s why I’m really close to them.
So how are you feeling this close to graduation?
There's a number of different emotions that I'm having. I'm really excited because the next chapter in my life is beginning. I'm also nervous because the pandemic has kind of held everything back, so I'm wondering how they're going to treat singers now that things are slowly transitioning back to sort of normal. And I'm hoping to get a full time job where I can further develop my musical skills and also help save for grad school.