Like her fellow Mississippi State Black Voices Gospel Choir members, Chandlyr Brown-Reed sings to praise, not perform; to exalt, not entertain; and for service, not for show.

The senior interdisciplinary studies major from Olive Branch joined the group her sophomore year, auditioning at a time of personal weakness and uncertainty. Having lost a parent and being an introvert on a campus filled with thousands of students, her acceptance into the choir was a pinnacle in her college experience.

“I remember being nervous. My voice was shaking, and I was thinking, ‘I definitely bombed my audition,’” Brown-Reed said. “I was talking to my grandmother, who went to school here, and she was telling me, ‘You know it would be really great if you got in, but don’t be nervous because God has a reason for everything.’

“The day after I was accepted, we had a kickoff event so the new members could meet the current members. I didn’t really know anyone in there at the time, but at the end, we sang ‘As the Deer,’ and I broke out in tears,” she continued. “I knew then that I was in an organization with people I could call my family. Joining was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made since coming to campus.”

Housed in the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center in the Division of Access, Opportunity and Success, Black Voices has been a collective of students committed to worshiping Christ for more than 40 years. For Brown-Reed, the choir not only strengthened her spiritual relationship, but it also immediately helped her to reimagine her purpose in life.

Encouraged by her advisors and fellow members to fulfill leadership positions on campus, Brown-Reed has cultivated an array of transferable skills that have not only strengthened her as a student but as a professional.

“Without Black Voices, I’d probably be still stuck in my shell. It taught me to go out there and strive for things, even if I’m scared,” she said. “Serving as president and secretary of the organization has helped me to solidify my time management and problem-solving skills. I’ve learned lessons that have helped with my resilience to finish strong, knowing that wherever I go there will always be conflict. Learning to be professional overall despite those circumstances is the key to success. I now understand that different people have different outlooks on life, but we can all coexist in uniformity.”

After graduating in May, Brown-Reed plans to work in research or in a hospital setting and hopes to enroll in medical school, where she hopes to specialize in pediatrics.

“Because of Black Voices, I was able to make MSU a home away from home. Not only is it a beautiful campus, but it is filled with so many people who want you to succeed. There are so many opportunities and clubs on campus. People always say there’s truly a place for everybody, there literally is,” she said. “The campus community really feels like a big happy family. These people here truly do care, and I’m going to miss that.”