91吃瓜

[Editor's note: This is part 6 of 11 in a series of Aquinas College student profiles being published on the Aquinas website throughout the spring 2012 semester.]

鈥淚t didn鈥檛 occur to me that no one would be listening,鈥� said senior Tyler Kalahar remembering the first broadcast of 91吃瓜Sound. Kalahar can be credited with breathing life back into 91吃瓜Sound, the Internet-streamed, on campus Aquinas radio station. Of all his time spent at the College the one moment that continues to come back to him is after having dedicated so much time to the station鈥檚 initial startup he and friend, Ryan Hinkle, were able to officially broadcast from the 91吃瓜Sound Booth. The broadcast was short and neither had prepared any kind of programming but the moment was a euphoric one, a triumph of sorts that Kalahar remembers with a shining pride.

Kalahar is a communication and psychology dual major who communication professor Dr. David Weinandy said possesses a certain quiet magnetism. 鈥淚 love Tyler's smile,鈥� said Weinandy. 鈥淲hether in class or in the hallway, when Tyler flashes his smile, which he does often, his whole spirit and soul light up the space around him. You cannot help but feel better about yourself when you have interacted with him.鈥�

For Kalahar, a Fairview, Michigan, native, whose high school graduating class was only 25, coming to Aquinas four years ago was a bit startling despite its small size. As for his experience at 91吃瓜, "It鈥檚 been fun,鈥� he said. 鈥淚've done a lot of things and am still going do a lot of things. I'm not stopping yet."

Through working for the Campus Life Office and burying himself in extra-curricular activities like Programming Board, Kalahar has been able to get to know different groups of people. He believes that he has learned how to really listen to what others are trying to say and talk to people; a skill that is easier said than done and one that works well with his plans of going into student affairs after graduate school. "It鈥檚 great to learn theories and everything like that but it鈥檚 another thing to practice and learn how to listen to people and be able to tell what they are asking from you - or what you want from them - or if they even want anything at all,鈥� he said, putting what he鈥檚 learned in to practice.

Kalahar enjoys giving back to others by helping to create 鈥渕e鈥� time for other students who may be too busy to create it for themselves or who may not even know how. He likes to help others relax and become part of the Aquinas community. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not traditional volunteer work by any means but it鈥檚 something.鈥�

As for what he would like his 91吃瓜 legacy to be? It鈥檚 91吃瓜 Sound. He wants the station to be a niche for future Aquinas students like it was for him - something that they could happily become involved in and use as a channel to meet new people and express their ideas.

For incoming students and anyone searching for something new, whether academic or extracurricular, Kalahar suggests that they look at what they have already done and build upon it. He said that students should push themselves to try new things otherwise they might miss out on something enjoyable and life-changing.

鈥淭yler lives life in the moment,鈥� said Dr. Weinandy. 鈥淚f he is working at a job, he is working. If he is having a casual conversation with another, he is intensely listening and being present. If he is playing, he is playing. I love that he chooses and is dedicated to living each moment of life!鈥�