Mock Profile

News Elements:
Who: Tyler Sekula
What: Became Vice President of Offbeats
Where: HPU
When: Earlier this semester
How: Voted in by peers

News Values:
Timeliness
Proximity
Human Interest
Conflict

Type of Lede:
Quotation Lede
______________________________

From Off-Key to Offbeat: How One Student Found His Rhythm

By: Tyler Sekula

Tyler Sekula, vice president of the Offbeats

One of the best professional football coaches of all time, Vince Lombardi, once said, "The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." These wise words encouraged one student to not only rise after he fell, but to continue to persevere towards his passion.

Tyler Sekula, a junior journalism major at High Point University, was recently voted vice president of HPU’s premiere co-ed a cappella group, the Offbeats.

“I am really grateful for the opportunity to be a major leader in this group,” Sekula stated earlier this week. “It’s something that I have wanted ever since the group was formed last year.”

Despite being a group for only a year, the Offbeats have made a significant impact on HPU’s campus, thanks, in part, to their dedicated group of student leaders. Determined to use their love of music to make a difference in people’s lives, the Offbeats strive to do so in an unconventional way.

“We have a lot of different personalities in the group,” Sekula stated. “There isn’t just one image we are trying to convey to people. Instead, we hope to inspire other people to step out of their comfort zones and try something new.”

Sekula began singing his senior year of a high school in a newly formed, all-male group named after a famous 70s doo-wop group, Sha Na Na. Having no prior musical experience, he was certainly out of his comfort zone.

“I really didn’t know what I was doing,” Sekula explained. “The only reason why I joined the group was to impress my girlfriend at the time.”

However, after only a few short weeks of singing with his new group, Sekula developed a passion for performing.

At the request of his music teacher, he joined a multi-generational community chorus, as well as a Barbershop chorus with his dad, in hopes of expanding his musical experience.

“Singing quickly became my favorite hobby,” Sekula stated. “I wanted to work as hard as possible to become the best singer I could be.”

Sekula’s hard work paid off when he was awarded ‘Musician of the Year’ for his entire high school during a senior awards night.

“I was extremely humbled and shocked,” Sekula explained. “It was really nice to have my hard work recognized.”

After graduating high school in June of 2011, Sekula knew he wanted to continue his musical journey at High Point University. Soon after arriving on campus, Sekula got in touch with Dr. Marc Foster, Chair of the Department of Music and Director of Choral Activities at HPU, in hopes of continuing to develop his abilities.

Dr. Foster encouraged Sekula to join Chapel Choir, an audition-only group of students who serve as worship leaders during weekly chapel services. After the boost of confidence he received from making this select choir, Sekula was excited to audition for the Toccatatones.

The Toccatatones are a very selective group of all-male a cappella singers, consisting primarily of music majors. Extremely popular on campus, they take their music very seriously. After auditioning, Sekula was disappointed when he learned that he would not be receiving a callback audition to join to the group. Although upset, he was in no way discouraged from following his passion.

"It was hard to admit that I still had some growing to do as a singer and as a performer, but being in Chapel Choir helped me to continue learning how to be the best that I could be."

Sekula spent the next year listening, singing, and ultimately, improving. When he auditioned for the Toccatatones as a sophomore, he felt that his year of practice would give him the edge that was missing form his performance the previous year.  

Unfortunately, the Toccatones decided against admitting him into the group once again. This time around was much more discouraging. 

"I really thought I was going to get in. I was definitely shocked when I didn't even get a callback. I seriously considered quitting singing altogether."

It was Nick Pierle, founder and President of the Offbeats, who showed Sekula that there were other opportunities to be a part of something important. The first co-ed a cappella group on campus was brand-new and in need of talent. Pierle invited Sekula to audition for the Offbeats the following week. 

"Nick came to me and told me about the Offbeats,"Sekula stated. "I wan interested in the idea of the group, but was very hesitant to put myself out there again."

Sekula was nervous entering into his third round of college a cappella auditioning. Although he was friends with Nick, he wasn't sure that he would make it, and his confidence was dwindling with each rejection.

After an impressive performance of "At Last" by the late, great Etta James at his audition, Sekula was accepted as one of the ten premiere members of the Offbeats. 

Original Members of the Offbeats

"I was beyond excited to be a part of the Offbeats," Sekula exclaimed. "Coming from my time in high school, I knew what it was like to be part of a new group. I was pumped to have the same opportunity in college."

Since joining the group over a year ago, Sekula has made some incredible friends that have helped to reignite his love for music. Wanting to give the most he could to the group, he decided to run for vice president once the position opened up.

"I consider myself to be a very strong leader," Sekula explained. "I definitely feel like I have what it takes to help this group live up to its potential."

Although his musical journey wasn't easy, Sekula wouldn't change it for anything.

“I believe that music has the power to change people's lives,” Sekula stated. “It changed mine more than I could have ever imagined.”

For more information about the Offbeats, be sure to ‘like’ them on Facebook.