Cheryl Aranda (center) with her band, NinthLife.

Songbird in the Sciences

Department Secretary Finds Inspiration in Her Children and in Song

December 3, 2007

By Russ Hudson

Cheryl Aranda is not at all new to California State Fullerton, although there was a large gap between “then” and “now.” Aranda graduated from the university in 1987 (B.A. communications-radio/TV/film), then returned 16 years later. She currently serves as secretary to the dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The mother of four also is a songwriter and lead singer in a rock band, and her children are proof that the apple seldom falls too far from the tree.

Q: What was the first position you had at CSUF?

A: My first position was as a temp in the Science Education Program office in 2003. After about five months, I temped in the dean’s office and was eventually hired permanently. When I first came to the dean’s office, there was a different dean, Kolf Jayaweera.

After I got my degree, I was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years while doing music on the side. I wrote songs and earned a part-time income by performing. In 2002, I started working full time in the office at one of the churches where I sang. The job sort of fell into my lap. I really loved the job and the people, but the commute was a minimum hour-and-a-half each way.

In late 2002, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I left the job to deal with the treatments. After surgery and in the middle of chemotherapy, I realized that I was functioning well enough to work again. I applied to the temp pool here at Cal State Fullerton and was working within a few weeks.

Q: What keeps you getting up in the morning?

A: My kids. I have four children, ages 15 to 21, that I need to be here for. I had a recurrence of cancer a year ago that had metastasized to my pelvic and hip bones and I went through another batch of chemo and radiation. It was a different set of drugs and I didn’t lose my hair, for which I was grateful. I was able to keep working. The treatment put me into a short-term remission.

This past August a scan showed that the cancer was active again and, this time, I have decided not to do traditional treatment. It doesn’t seem to be effective for me and continuing to poison my body to deal with the situation doesn’t make sense anymore. Since the end of August, I have been doing a strict, organic, vegan, nutritional therapy that is extremely time consuming, but I strongly believe that flooding my body with nutrition and supercharging my immune system is what I need to do now. I’ll have another scan in a few weeks and we’ll see if this is having any effect.

Q: What other interests do you have outside of work?

A: Well, really, I continue to sing. I have had to cut back on the schedule somewhat, but performing with my band is something that I love so much. It gives me something more to look forward to.
I love expressing myself in creative ways, whether it’s writing or singing. I’ve had a lot of things to deal with over the years, and being able to pour my pathos into a song is helpful.

Q: What is the band’s name?

A: The name of the band is NinthLife. The band was originally called Living Proof before I joined. It’s been through so many personnel changes that we likened it to a cat with nine lives and changed the name.

There are four guys in the band with me: Albert Eles on keyboards and guitar, Steven Noguera on guitar, Marc Croft on bass and Jesse Baker on drums. I’m the lead singer and I play guitar and a little keyboard as well. The guys are so good. I love making music with them. Albert also is a Cal State Fullerton grad. I don’t know when he graduated, but his degree is in music.

My singing style is on the mellower side. I’m not typically a power belter, but we do have some rocking songs.

Q: Are any of your children musical?

A: My children are all musical. My oldest son plays trumpet, drums, keyboard and a bit of guitar. My oldest daughter plays piano and clarinet. My youngest daughter plays a bit of piano and sings. My youngest son is a monster electric-guitar player. All of the kids write their own songs.

Q: If you couldn’t do the job you’re doing now, what would be your next choice (different kind of work)? Why?

A: My dream job would be to be able to stay home and write songs for films or TV or other artists. I’ve had a few small-scale successes with that sort of thing.

Q: What is the most valuable thing you have learned in your life, and how did you learn it?

A: The most valuable thing I have learned is how important it is to respect and trust myself. I learned it the hard way, by putting up with emotional abuse in a couple of relationships and by not trusting my intuition.

Q: What is your personal goal in life?

A: To be completely healthy for the long haul. I want to be around long enough to see all my kids graduate from college, get married and have their own children. I need to be around to harass my kids as they tackle parenthood.