The Cougar's Byte

Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Evelyn Molinares

Not everyone can pull off wearing a bowtie… but then there is Addofio Addo. Not only can he make a bow tie look fresh and fashionable, but also the plaid shirt, and the "Mr. Roger's neighborhood" sweater too! If you do not know Addofio, well, that is hard to believe! You would be missing out on an intelligent, amiable, and exceptional human being.

Addofio, better known as Addo was born in Newark, NJ but his parents, who have been nothing but a positive influence on his life, are from Ghana. Attending Arts High School in Newark has shaped him into the wonderful person he is today. Arts High is the first performing arts high school of its kind in the nation. "I was always around talented people," he says of his fellow schoolmates from Arts High.

Being the humble, open-minded individual that he is, his talent lies in music. Simply put, he says, "Music is my life." With passion in his heart, he has a unique ear for music that will take him far beyond any imaginable success. He enjoys "being in an environment where I could learn a craft, and be exposed to cultures and the arts." Possibly, because of this, he developed his "crazy ear. I hear things that people would not hear… I can tune into different spectrums of music."

"I have so many styles," he says about his range in music. For Addo, "music has a personality. Music transfers personality- tells a story." Specifically, Addo is a drummer, but that does not mean his talents do not extend far past drumming. In high school, he belonged to a group called Fusion. Personally, Addo enjoys r&b and jazz, but Fusion fused all different genres of music including classical, Hispanic, Caribbean, Japanese, etc. Addo insists: "I am very laid back but open to cultures, studying different cultures, and breaking cultural barriers through music."

Aside from being a full-time student majoring in marketing and communications, Addo is also a resident assistant for the office of residence life and the assistant treasurer on the executive board of Student Organization. Addo is an exemplary resident assistant. His relationship with his residents is like that of a true family. "My first year as an RA has been a pretty fun experience. My sixth floor of Burch Hall- we like to have fun. We make living on campus an extraordinary experience."

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