IDA Fellow Ari Marcus reflects on his first year

In many ways, IDA was one of the first communities I found when I first came here to Stanford University. I arrived in August, knowing only a handful of people, but I was quickly thrust into the open arms of IDA. The Harmony House became a safe space, somewhere I felt comfortable, and the warmth I felt from the other IDA Ridahs increased every day. It was incredible to walk into a biweekly all-in meeting at the Harmony House, where I would be so surrounded by a wealth of knowledge and passion to promote the arts on campus. I was still trying to find my way in this new land, but I knew IDA was the place to be.

I grew up attending all types of art shows. My parents brought me to performances since I was a child, and as I grew into my late high school years, I attended more and more events. I grew to understand the power that art holds to provide representation to the vast communities of the world. My mother and father both promoted art from cultures around the world: my father through teaching world music and playing traditional Middle Eastern and North Indian music, and my mother worked at a center that allowed underrepresented communities to come together and educate others of their culture through art. I wanted to be a part of this amazing interaction with art, so when I first came here to Stanford during Admit Weekend 2014, I went to IDA and asked for an application. The staff at IDA apparently felt my enthusiasm and hired me as an intern to work for them.

It was incredible. I was suddenly thrust into a world of art events for which I could be involved in their formation. Without any idea of how to host an event, the other interns and fellows at IDA guided me and showed me the methods to be followed in order to have a successful event. Before long, to my surprise, I was emceeing an event, and even though it wasn’t my best performance, IDA was still giving me the space to learn. I quickly found my place within IDA; I was always quick to volunteer for events involving world music, and IDA allowed my passion in world music to thrive. They gave me the space to practice my passion, for which I am ever appreciative. One of the highlights of this year was working for months with the Nile Project on their visit to Stanford, as part of their tour of America. When they finally came, I played music with them and closely followed their numerous events on campus, getting to know the musicians.

IDA is an incredible space for me that has been highly formative in my first year at Stanford. Here, I’ve grown more comfortable and at ease with myself. I’ve been able to follow my passion and do what I love. Truly, I have had such an extraordinary year here at Stanford, and IDA must be thanked for that.