American Idol Star Jax to Study Social Media at FIDM

Name: Jax

Age: 21

Admissions Advisor: Shirley McDonald

From her humble beginnings as a musical theater kid to making second runner-up on Season 14 of American Idol, Jax has dedicated her life to her art and has overcome countless obstacles along the way. After dealing with unknown health issues, Jax was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer, but instead of letting that bring her down, she's been able to channel those emotions into something positive through her music. "It's been a weird two years for me health-wise and emotionally, and I think the writing process was hugely affected by it," she says. "I had always felt like I was indestructible, so getting sick was a real shock for me, but I needed that contrast in order to get a new perspective on things."

Jax is the daughter of a New York City school teacher mother, and her father was a first responder during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was injured on the job during the recovery mission, forcing him to retire. After his retirement, he devoted every second to helping make his daughter's dream come true.

No matter what she is going through physically or emotionally, writing, creating, and digital communication with her fan base has served as a way for Jax to express herself for her entire life, even back when she was still an adolescent being home schooled. "Every single experience impacts my writing and every song is a part of my journey, and social media has always been a massive part of my life, career, and sharing a vision with my supporters. Social media and digital communication is an extraordinary platform and I still find it amazing that I get to have it at my fingertips," she says.

In addition to pursuing a degree at FIDM, Jax plans to perform live in the coming year. "I feel more at home onstage than I do in my own room sometimes, and there's nothing more exciting than for people to be able to hear my story and be on the journey with me," she explains. "There's nothing quite like connecting to the fans and watching them literally preach the lyrics that you wrote; it's an amazing feeling that I really couldn't even describe if I tried." As for her next chapter as a Social Media student, she says, "I’m humbled to be a part of such an amazing family and team at FIDM. I know they will do everything they can to nurture my skills and help me grow as an artist and student."

Categories: Digital Marketing