For M.A.D.E. major and music business minor Ana Kahan, the last four years at Frost School of Music, since she left her hometown of L.A. to pursue her college career in Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship at Frost, have been what she calls "nonlinear." Meaning, different than anyone else's path.
Kahan graduated high school in May 2019 and began attending Frost that fall. But during her first week of classes, she had a dramatic entrance to the M.A.D.E program when her singing teacher told her she had a polyp on her vocal cords. She underwent vocal surgery and spent two weeks on complete vocal rest and in vocal therapy for the remainder of her semester. Subsequently, she returned to school, only to return home due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
As she looks back, Kahan credits her friends and family for lifting her up throughout this journey and her teachers for keeping her on track with her college career. Professors like Raina Murnak, Director of the Frost Summer Institute of Contemporary Songwriting, poured into Kahan's life, providing the flexibility and encouragement she needed.
Then and now, that's how Kahan describes the last four years of her life. And if you look closely, you can catch a spark of light in her eyes. "I haven't had the opportunity to be here on campus that much," she says. "For the first time since my freshman year, I've been able to experience a full year on campus, and I'm graduating in May! It's been kind of crazy with all the opportunities that have come my way this year, like, performing the National Anthem at the Miami Marlins vs. New York Mets game on Saturday!"
While pursuing her studies at Frost, Kahan experienced numerous curveballs over four years. In her sophomore year, Kahan went home for Thanksgiving break and began to experience pain in her chest. A CT scan revealed she had an 8cmx8cm tumor in her chest. The news forced her to stay home during her second semester of sophomore year and her second semester of junior year.
She endured a ten-hour surgery, followed by seven weeks of radiation treatments. During her first surgery, Ana's vocal cord was damaged and paralyzed, and doctors were unsure how her voice would heal or if she would be able to sing or speak the same again. The following year came with some more bad news. Her cancer had reoccurred, so she underwent another grueling surgery.
A few months ago, a girl from her sorority who graduated recently reached out to Kahan via social media to talk about a non-profit organization close to Ana's heart: Chords2Cure. Kahan had been very involved with Chords2Cure since she was 15, years before her cancer diagnosis. The organization raises money for pediatric cancer and research at Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA-Pediatrics, where Kahan was hospitalized years later.
To continue supporting this organization, which is now closer to her heart than ever, Kahan is actively using her passion for music to help raise funds. All the tickets that Kahan brought in from the link she shared with her friends and family on Instagram will be donated to Chords2Cure for pediatric cancer research.
"It's cool for me to have my two passions go hand in hand," says Kahan. "It's been so rewarding using my passion for music to stand up for a cause that means so much to me and has affected my life along with so many others."
Kahan also uses her voice on social media to speak out about what she went through, which normalizes it for those dealing with something similar.
"I'm a 22-year-old girl, I go to college, and I like to go out and have fun. I've dealt with this illness for so long, and speaking out will make things less scary for someone going through their own health journey or struggles. I have always looked up to the musicians I love and have found comfort in relating to their journeys. Social media has connected me to so many sick young kids, and I hope to be someone else's role model like my favorite musicians are for me."
