Macy LeCheminant began college in Arizona with plans to become a professional vocalist, but a challenging medical condition altered those plans. Now at the BYU Marriott School of Business studying experience design and management (ExDM), LeCheminant allows her optimism to shape her opportunities.
LeCheminant grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, where she developed her talents as a dancer, singer, and pianist. “I love music and performing. It was a huge part of my life,” LeCheminant says. As she worked hard to achieve her performance goals, she also hoped to attend cosmetology school, but her work and performance responsibilities limited her time for other opportunities. After high school, she took vocal performance classes at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona with plans to become a professional performer.
However, in her first year of college she noticed a pain in her throat. She visited the doctor and was diagnosed with vocal cord nodules or “nodes,” a condition that required her to rest and go weeks without using her voice.
The diagnosis challenged LeCheminant's patience and threatened her future as a singer. “Not being able to speak was rough,” she says. She carried a whiteboard with her to write on when she needed to communicate. “I couldn’t even go through a drive-thru by myself.”
She did her best to stay positive during her recovery, but thoughts of not properly preparing for her future crept into her mind. “I had always prioritized piano and voice lessons over going to cosmetology school,” she says. “I was terrified I had wasted all of my time preparing to be a performer, and that I was a failure.”
After grappling with feelings of regret while resting her voice, she received more bad news. A vocal therapist told her that she needed more rest, medication, and possibly surgery.
Amidst this uncertainty about her future, she chose to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her vocal performance coaches advised LeCheminant not to serve. “They didn’t like how much I would be talking on my mission,” LeCheminant explains.
But LeCheminant’s friends and family supported her, and she looked forward to the challenges that come with full-time church service. “I hoped to make my mission a faith-building experience,” she says.
During her church mission in Boston, Massachusetts, her vocal cord condition intensified. Speaking and singing caused her discomfort, but her love for music overshadowed the occasional pain. “Singing helped a lot on my mission when COVID-19 hit.” The pandemic limited in-person activities, so she shared her talents through missionary music videos along with virtual and in-person firesides.
While on her mission, LeCheminant realized that she could be passionate about a career outside of music and performance. She explains, “I’ll always be able to do music.” Her realization allowed her to consider educational pursuits in fields other than vocal performance.
Although she was now open to new career paths following her mission, deciding on a specific major presented its own challenges. LeCheminant knew she wanted to pursue higher education, but wasn’t sure what to study. Luckily, some co-workers offered helpful ideas about possible careers in real estate, interior design, or sales. That’s when the ExDM program at BYU Marriott piqued her interest.
“The experience design and management program at BYU seemed very versatile, which is what I was looking for,” she explains. “I realized that all of my music performances are actually experiences that I helped create. So it made sense for me to go into a field where I am designing experiences.” After thought and prayer, LeCheminant applied to Brigham Young University and began studying ExDM.
The ExDM program emphasizes the design thinking process, which includes understanding, defining, brainstorming ideas, creating prototypes, and testing. Through the program, she has learned new skills and gained a sense of fulfillment. “I’m now realizing I fit in so much better in ExDM than vocal performance, and that God had a plan for me the whole time,” LeCheminant says.
LeCheminant is grateful for the confidence she’s gained in herself and in her decisions, while still being comfortable with failure and growth. “ExDM has taught me how to not be a perfectionist but to enjoy overcoming struggles.”
LeCheminant worked in summer sales, and she related her work in sales to designing and managing experiences. She says, “I hope to go into tech sales and apply experience design principles because the sales industry could benefit from the design thinking process.”
Now preparing for graduation, she reflects on how overcoming her health challenges transformed her mindset. “I’m more optimistic in my work and school life,” she says, “because I know God will put me on the best path.”
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Written by Jake Holt
