First has been a key word for graduating senior JaSahn Brown in his journey through life. He feels his years as a Grambling State University (GSU) student have been a first-class experience.

Brown, who grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he attended Northside High School, is the first male on his father’s side of the family to graduate from high school, let alone college.

He said becoming a member of the World Famed Marching Tiger Band was the main force in bringing him to Grambling.

“The band along with financial opportunities being a part of the band made my decision an easy one,” Brown said. “But the band is my whole life. It’s what I love and it’s who I am.

“I’m proud to be the first male in my family to graduate college, no one else on that side of my family had ever gone that far with their education. But the thing I’m probably proudest of is being a member of the Grambling band and going on to earn my degree from Grambling [State].”

A music major with a concentration in Liberal Arts and a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band fraternity, Brown said he intends to keep music as a big part of his life and plans to return to his hometown to teach music.

”I’m going back home to Lafayette and hopefully get a job teaching music at a middle school,” Brown said. “That’s how I got my start in music, and because music is my passion that just seems like the right thing for me — giving back to what led me to Grambling and earning my degree.”

Brown admitted being part of the band was a challenge at times.

“Academically, it was a learning experience where I literally had to learn my way,” Brown said. “Time management is the most important thing, because if you’re not careful, you can run out of time. That happened early on when I got to Grambling because I ran out of time and failed one of my first courses."

“But that taught me the importance of time management, and how I needed to learn to balance being in the band and my social life with the education side of things. I had to realize that was what I came to Grambing for — that education — and everything else follows. But I learned how to handle all of it and learned a lesson about managing my time and setting priorities. But being a part of the band made all of the hard work worthwhile.”

Dr. Nikole Roebuck, Department of Music head and Director of Bands, appreciates the commitment Brown has shown to the band.

"Jasahn Brown exemplified the commitment, passion and spirit that makes the World Famed Tiger Marching Band truly world-renowned. Through his leadership and dedication to excellence, he helped lift the band to new heights and inspire countless students to pour their heart and soul into the music."

Fittingly, Brown’s favorite moments as a GSU student have all been about firsts in his life.

“The first time I flew on a plane was with the band,” Brown said. “The first time I went to New York, which I really enjoyed, the first time I went to Las Vegas, which I also really enjoyed, were both with the band.

“I’ve gone to a lot of big football stadiums for the first time with the band. Those will always be my favorite moments at Grambling because the band gave me the opportunity to experience so many firsts.”

Brown said a strong work ethic will be the most important thing he’ll take with him from Grambling as he moves on with his life.

“A lot of people I hang around are also in the band and they continue to push me,” Brown said. “They push me in many different ways, all trying to make me a better and stronger person.

“So it’s the work ethic they push me to have is the biggest thing I'll take with me as I move on with the rest of my life.”

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Activities

New Orleans, La.
The 51st Annual Bayou Classic
Grambling vs. Southern
Caesars Superdome
Greek Show & Battle of the Bands – Fri, Nov 29
Game – Sat, Nov 30