From spending her weekends performing in front of London’s market to a sold-out Shawn Mendes concert, a 19-year-old hopes to inspire undecided students to follow their dream career, even though sound impossible.
“I sang my original song at a sold out show in Cleveland and I couldn’t believe it. Shawn Mendes let me steal the stage for about 3 minutes. it is an inspiration for me to see how giving he is. After that happened, it really inspired me to keep pursuing my career,” says Sarina Haggarty, student in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College.
Haggarty adds that it is a challenge to be a singer songwriter, since she has to come up with songs as part of the school curriculum.
“When I started, it took me just minutes and it was so easy to write a song. First, I thought, ‘wow’ I want to do this as my career. Now, I can’t come up with a great song right away. I can come up with couple great lines, but finishing it? it’s a challenge.”
One year ago today – I got to share this fantastic music video made by @Take5Digital! Check it out!! #OBSESSEDhttps://t.co/cyinCOETFq
— Sarina Haggarty (@sarinahaggarty) November 26, 2018
Sarina’s early years in music weren’t as fun. Doctors at the London Health Sciences Centre diagnosed her as having epilepsy when she was about 9 years. She suffered her first seizure on her way to a performance.
But despite her health problems in the past, she continues to make music and enjoys her music passion as never before. She encourages anybody, who is afraid or shy of their dreams, to follow their heart as they may never know where their life could go.
“I really like to tell people that they can do anything with their life. Whether they get into math, science, radio, or the music industry. No matter what it is, no one is stopping you than only yourself.”
Her plans after school are to be a independent singer and songwriter performer or work for a record label. “Graduating from MIA will be awesome to have in my biography.”
She says it is very important to be open minded if you want to become an artist and to just meet people around London whether they are musical or not.
“I find it’s very important to become known in London and then go somewhere else like Toronto or LA, and always remember your home town.”
