When I arrived at Davidson, I was unsure of a lot–a feeling expressed by many college freshmen. What did I want to major in? What did I want to be involved with? Many questions clouded me as I settled in. However, there was one thing I was dead set on: joining a band and playing as many shows as possible. Playing music, especially the guitar, has been a big part of my life since I was eleven years old. I have actively been in a band since middle school. So, once the Activities Fair rolled around in the fall, student music was the one thing I sought out. Thankfully, it did not take me long to find exactly what I was looking for at WALT 1610’s table. WALT runs a student band initiative (the world’s coolest Google Sheet) that allows students who are looking for musical opportunities outside of something like orchestra or jazz band to put themselves out there and connect with other musicians. Through WALT, I was able to spend my freshman fall meeting and playing with other students.

Later that same semester, Annabel Semans ‘26 reached out to me with an opportunity to play an acoustic set with her as an opener to a Live Thursday act. While I considered that show to be another one-off, I was elated when Annabel approached me again to join Fool’s Errand—a band that she had been forming with Abby Morris ‘24, Paige Pakenas ‘25, Jacob Kim ‘26, and Enzo Guardado ‘27. We practiced for the first time as a collective at the start of my freshman spring. The only concept I can compare it to is love at first sight. The first song we played was “Hard to Handle” by The Black Crowes, and as soon as we started playing, I knew that I had never felt more in sync with other musicians.

We continued to practice and develop a repertoire before we played our first show about a month later at Kappa Sigma’s Wild West-themed darty. The acclaim that we were met with there showed me that my unrelenting faith in the band was not unfounded. Being able to fill the space with friends and peers who were having a good time was a feeling like no other. For the rest of my freshman spring, we worked to play as much as we could. We were a Woodstock headliner, we won Battle of the Bands, and we played a night show at Nummit.

This year, Fool’s Errand has gained far more momentum. Peter Diugu ‘27 joined us and we performed at the year’s first band party, Walt Cotillion, as well as Live Thursday. We also began playing shows off campus at Old Town Public House and KPub, Annabel and I played with Mipso during their recent visit, and we intend to have more shows at other colleges like Appalachian State, Duke, and LSU. In addition, we hope to work toward original music soon.

Since my introduction to playing in a student band at Davidson, I have worked to immerse myself in every aspect of campus life that stems off of my experience. I decided to minor in Music, I frequently help WALT treasurer Alex Chudzik ‘26 set up tech for student performances and Patterson Court events, and I aim to attend as many of the other student bands’ performances as I can (my favorites right now are Kill the Feedback and The Sustainability Cooperative). I have met so many of my favorite people through that first opportunity I was given during my freshman year.

I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who is passionate about anything, whether it’s music or not, to use David

-son’s abundant resources to do or create what they love. Despite how much I could rave about my own experience, I think that everything I have both seen and done is emblematic of two of the best parts of Davidson: both the student initiative and the resources that exist here feel unparalleled, and I love seeing them work in tandem. You can see this everywhere, from fundraisers for hurricane relief to new clubs that create and build amazing communities to events as niche as Tiny DACE concerts. The commonality that exists between all of these is how innately Davidson-esque they feel through their commitment, integrity, and authenticity.

Initially, it did not feel fitting to commemorate or describe my experience so early into my Davidson career. But that could be what is most exciting about all of this—there is still so much that lies ahead. That may be a stressful concept to some, but I have employed it as a mantra, which has led me to feel significantly more productive and fulfilled. I believe that anyone who feels aimless, freshman or otherwise, should jump at any interesting opportunity they see. Regardless of how well it goes, making that effort is definitely worth it.

Jayson Rivera ‘27 is an intended English major and Music minor from Middletown, Delaware and can be reached for comment at [email protected].