Jasic
McDonald loved coaching high school basketball and teaching computer animation and
technology classes for seven years. But there was another passion that always
remained in the back of McDonald’s mind.
Music
was always a big part of McDonald’s life growing up in Nacogdoches, Texas,
whether it was through singing in church during his youth or writings songs as
he became older. McDonald began developing his own music by the age of 17.
"All
my life I wanted to be a singer, songwriter and producer," said McDonald.
"From church to being in the studio with producers to other family members
who sang, music has always been a part of my life. It's never left from what I
was actually doing."
During
his four years in the military after high school, McDonald created his own
production company, Liquid Tracks Music Productions, in 2001. After his time
with the military, McDonald earned his bachelor’s in business management from
Huston-Tillotson University. He taught marketing and technology at several
schools including the American Youth Works Charter School, Austin ISD, and
Lockhart High School.
McDonald
continued to do music on the side during his teaching career by writing songs,
producing and helping other artists with their songs. He also started his very
own music group, Liquid Tracks Music Group, in 2010. McDonald loved teaching
and helping students, but during the 2011-2012 school year he came to a
realization when a former student asked him a simple question while eating
dinner at a restaurant.
“He
asked me what do I love to do the most, singing or teaching,” said McDonald. “He
asked me which one I was more passionate about and if I had ever thought about
doing music full-time. It made me think about everything.”
After
talking with the former student at the restaurant, McDonald decided it was time
to make the transition. He left Lockhart High School after the school year
ended in 2012 and started working on music full-time.
"The
main reason why I changed over was because I felt like it was the time to give
myself a chance to run my own business," said McDonald. "I changed
over because of the reasons of not giving my full potential of what I love to
do. And it’s not just about the money. If you have a passion and love for
something, you go for it.”
McDonald
said the transition from teaching to music wasn’t an easy one. A steady income
and leaving behind students were some of the biggest obstacles McDonald faced,
he said. The singer, songwriter and
producer said the change has allowed him to learn how to budget more effectively
from month to month. A few people questioned why McDonald left teaching but
overall received support from others, he said.
"When
you go out on that limb to do something successful and leaving a job so secure
like teaching, you hear people say 'you're crazy for doing that'," said
McDonald. "But I always had mentors that always said 'it's your life and
the only way you're going to find out is if you do it'."
UT
sophomore Lucas Westbrook, one of McDonald’s former students and basketball
players, said he respects McDonald’s ambitiousness towards a career in music
and admires the work he has put in.
“It
takes guts to leave one career to pursue another,” said Westbrook. “But he’s
pursuing a career in something he loves. If you’re truly passionate about
something, go after that passion and work hard for it. That’s exactly what
[McDonald] is doing. I’m proud of him.”
UT
junior Jay Baliterra, another former student of McDonald’s, said he along with
many other people who knew McDonald were surprised he left teaching to do music
full-time. Baltierra said he will still support him and believes people can
learn something special from McDonald’s choice.
“We
were all kind of shocked when [McDonald] left,” said Baltierra. “I’m still
going to root for him regardless. I think he stands as a role model for anyone
in the way he took a risk in order to do something he loves and cares about
more than anything.”
McDonald
is currently working on his first album “The Love Life” and will be touring in
the spring of 2014. He also recently applied for Doctoral Learning Technologies
at University of North Texas to earn his doctorate.
McDonald
said if his music career doesn’t work out the way he envisioned, he could
always go back to his other passion; teaching.
“I
put music in the front of my goals to see where it’s going to take me,” said
McDonald. “If it takes me here and stops, I know I can still do what I’ve been
doing in teaching and helping out with people.”
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