At just twenty-six years old, 07’ alumni Rebecca Wilder, relocated to China to found a center for orphaned and disabled children called Hope Station. The non-profit, operated out of Chengdu, was the brain child of Wilder after her experiences from an internship five years earlier.
Wilder remembers her time at PiM fondly, “I will forever be thankful for my time studying music and the arts at PiM. It widened my cultural and artistic horizons, and that is a huge deal in living overseas. I’m so thankful that I had the chance to be a music major in high school, without jeopardizing my other interests and studies. Not only that, but everything I’ve studied in high school and college has come together beautifully in what I do now. Both music and intercultural studies are part of my daily life. And I wouldn’t want it any other way!”
Though she’s been permanently relocated in China since February 2015, Wilder’s relationship to music is far from over. “One of the first things I did when I moved here was buy a piano. I play often just on my own, and it keeps me sane through all the craziness of cross-cultural living. I often bring my guitar to the orphanages we visit and do musical activities with the children there. Just recently, we had a whole afternoon dedicated to making music together, and we brought percussion instruments for all the kids. Some of them even got to try playing the real guitar. Not only do they enjoy music, but it is also really helpful in keeping them calm. Music is often more of a common language than English or Chinese or even body language. It bridges a gap between me and them and helps us to connect on a whole new level.”
