OCTC's Student Spotlight

Addison Hamilton

by Sharmy Davis

Owensboro, KY (12/19/2019) — Hamilton Seeks Healing Power of Music

Although Addison Hamilton is a familiar face, singing and playing guitar at Pathfinder Day, or helping out at various events on OCTC's campus, technically she is still a senior at Daviess County High School. Hamilton has been a student dually enrolled at OCTC for the past two years. She is on track to graduate in May from Daviess County High and will have earned almost 50 college credit hours.

Her educational plan is to transfer from OCTC to the University Kentucky and earn a bachelor's degree in Music and then work toward a master's degree in Music Therapy. Music therapists address physical, emotional, cognitive, and psycho-social needs of individuals by applying interventions like singing, playing instruments, movement, improvising, and songwriting.

Hamilton enjoys helping people; she is also an accomplished musician. She plays the piano, guitar, and sings. Hamilton has seen the positive impact music therapy has had on individuals who suffer from mental and physical health issues. She wants to attend the University of Kentucky because they have a Music Therapy program accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The University of Kentucky program provides a clinical experience that will allow her to shadow a Music Therapist and join the therapist at hospitals when they meet with patients. Addison hopes this exposure to medical facilities will help her network throughout the region, which will be beneficial when she establishes her own music therapy practice.

Since music is very important to Hamilton, it makes sense that the person at OCTC who has made her experience most rewarding is her piano teacher, Alvie Snyder. Snyder and Hamilton have worked together on piano lessons for the past two years and he has had a positive impact on her OCTC experience. He encourages her persistence by rewarding her whenever she is playing a new piece and becomes frustrated, encouraging her to think through the piece and take it step by step. Hamilton looks forward to piano class as it has become a great stress reliever.

Attending OCTC has provided Hamilton with the confidence needed to succeed at a large university, such as UK. Being a concurrently enrolled student allowed her to take classes online, so she was able to progress at her own speed. The flexible schedule allowed Hamilton to work part time, which allowed her to save money. She would tell anyone that is considering college, to attend OCTC. Hamilton believes OCTC is a great place to start before heading to a four-year university or college.

Addison is the daughter of Dr. Rob and Casey Hamilton and has a younger brother, Jack. Click to watch the video.

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