In Another Life, We’d Be…

Ever wondered what you’d be doing if life had taken a different turn? We all have passions outside of music, and for some of us, DJing wasn’t even the original plan. Maybe we’d be running a business, traveling the world, or working a 9-to-5 (okay, maybe not that last one).

This month, we asked our DJs a simple but fun question: If you weren’t a DJ, what would you be doing instead? Their answers range from completely logical to totally unexpected, and some might even surprise you!

So, in another life, who would we be? Let’s find out.

DJ M, Host of My Mental Breakdown of Movies

If I weren’t a DJ at KSSU, I would be doing absolutely nothing (in a good way). I already spend most of my free time doing nothing, as in watching movies, reading books, creating art, and doing other random stuff. If I had complete free time and wasn’t a KSSU DJ (or a student with a billion other responsibilities) I would have so much more time to do random unemployed nonsense. I feel like I was born to be unemployed because I just love doing whatever I want, whenever I want. I could watch all the movies on my watchlist, read through my unread books on my bookshelf, and finish all my abandoned art projects. There are so many shows I have saved on a list that I want to watch, but I haven’t had the time to. So much of my time has been spent on watching movies and consuming media in general, but I could maximize my consumption if I weren’t a KSSU DJ and had all my free time be free time.

King Fierce, Host of Oriental Vibes

Hi everyone, it is King Fierce once again, bringing you another small excerpt of my writing skills. As a DJ, I enjoy mixing songs of different genres and songs that somehow do not match with each other. The question is what I would have been if I hadn’t become a part-time DJ.  

To answer that question, I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Health Science with a minor in Political Science. Despite being a DJ, I still would have my position as a Supplemental Leader for CHEM 6A and a Peer Mentor for the Political Science Odyssey Program. Also, if being a DJ never showed up on my radar, I probably would have progressed more into the Nursing Program, taking volunteer opportunities with local nursing facilities around Sacramento or Stockton. Though the nursing program here at Sacramento State did not take me as one of the top 70 nominees, I am grateful that I am part of KSSU, and I am currently looking into schools on the East Coast, particularly New York University, Columbia University, and Harvard University. Talking about Harvard, I do hear that they are offering free tuition to those families making under $200k a year.  

Without my role as a DJ, I absolutely will still be one of the smartest students on campus like always (LOL! I am totally not showing off). Many of my professors are very impressed with my exceptional performance on assignments lately. One of them even decided to give me 10 extra credit points on my assignment that was due last Friday. I was very surprised to see this, and I hope it continues for the next few months until graduation.  

Overall, if I was not a DJ, I would probably be a student who is more focused on work than ever before. I wouldn’t have fun on most days and just sit at a computer screen all day. Now, if I was not a DJ at all, I would be a nurse or peer advocate because I want to help people who are in need, especially when it is critical. I have been on the health science pathway for the past eight years, and I want to eventually make it to my doctorate degree (hopefully). At the same time, I believe being part of KSSU as a DJ is very fun and adds more experiences to my life. I never knew that I would be a part-time DJ as I am doing gigs outside of my own show. I just remember myself playing with the DJ controller back in October and then afterwards, my fingers and arms took over the rhythms of certain songs. Even when I drive sometimes, my mind is thinking of songs to transition if played on my show. Well, that skill can be used in becoming a nurse probably. Surprisingly, I can also read minds as well (LOL!). To finally end this post, if I was not a DJ, I would become a nurse or peer advocate. 

P.S. If you are interested in actually mixing songs or even having your own talk or music show, join the beautiful KSSU, Sac State’s own student-run radio station.  

DJ Chrys, Host of Against The Grain

As a former high school teen who long aspired to DJ for a college radio station once I graduated, it’s kind of hard to imagine what other dream job I would have outside of my time here at KSSU. 

My (hopeful) future degree in Cell and Molecular Biology could definitely lead some to think that my ideal career would have something to do with science, and that thought is partially true! My realistic dream job after my time here at CSUS (and, in tandem, my time at KSSU) aligns with either human pathology or plant biology– I’m still undecided as of now, but I’ve got plenty of time to figure that out. 

One of my deepest secrets, however, is the fact that my actual dream gig has nothing to do with music or biology. If I could drop everything now and do whatever I wanted, I would love to be a practical effects artist for a small-production horror studio. 

Movies tie with music for the number one slot on the imaginary list of “Chrys’ Top Lifetime Obsessions”, particularly older creature-feature type films. Some of my favorite horror flicks that implement practical special effects are John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator (1985), and David Cronenberg’s The Fly (1986). All three focus on some sort of creature(s) that require hand-made masks, models, prosthetics, or makeup to come to life, and the behind-the-scenes work that needs to be done to make that on-screen horror happen is exactly what I dream of doing. 

If you’ve seen Coralie Fargiat’s The Substance from 2024, the amalgamation of a creature that’s revealed at the end (no spoilers here!) was made (mostly) by real artists as opposed to computer-generated imagery (CGI). I would really enjoy working on creating a truly gnarly monster like that out of foam, liquid latex, copious amounts of paint, and a wild dream. 

I previously mentioned The Thing in this entry, and I really just want to re-emphasize how amazing the effects in that movie are. Artist Rob Bottin was only 22 years old when he began his work on The Thing, and the result of his tireless efforts is nothing short of utterly disturbing. Bottin’s creatures in The Thing set the pace for future practical FX work to come, and if you’re a fan of horror or open to giving it a try, I highly recommend watching the 1985 version of The Thing to get a grasp on the sort of horrendous creations I’m talking about here. 

Unfortunately, the job of an FX artist only really ends up paying well if you secure a gig working for a top-tier movie production company or if the movie you worked on ends up being a box office smash hit. Horror is indeed on a bit of a come-up right now in terms of popularity, but the salary I could gain from that pales in comparison to one I would earn with a career relating to Cell and Molecular Biology. 

Money should never be the driving force of motivation in your life; however, being financially stable allows one to enjoy life a lot more than somebody who is financially unstable due to a lack of worry regarding housing, food, or other necessary life aspects… 

Although if I end up flunking out of college, maybe I’ll decide to risk it all and chase after this dream of mine! Who knows– I could possibly be the next Rob Bottin. Sorry in (hypothetical) advance, Mom and Dad…

DJ Z, Host of From My Playlist To Yours

Radio has been part of my life since I was a kid. Sitting in the front seat with my parents, switching stations until the perfect song played—I didn’t realize it then, but that’s where my love for being on-air began. Thanks to KSSU, that love became real. I got to DJ, host my own show, and be part of something that mattered to me.

But there’s another dream I’ve carried with me for just as long. One I don’t always talk about, but it’s been there—growing, evolving, and living quietly inside me.

If you’ve listened to my show, you know how much I love Hindi Film Cinema. Not “Bollywood.” That name doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like something borrowed—like someone tried to define us using their lens. But Hindi Film Cinema? It’s ours. It’s emotional, colorful, poetic, larger-than-life yet deeply personal. It’s where music, dance, love, heartbreak, and beauty all collide—and somehow, everything just makes sense.

I grew up watching these films like they were part of my family. Maine Pyaar Kiya, DDLJ, Hum Tum, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Jab We Met, Love Aaj Kal, Koi Mil Gaya, Heyy Baby, Dostana—honestly, the list is endless. These stories shaped how I see the world. They taught me to dream, to feel deeply, to believe that love can be cinematic and that expressing your emotions isn’t something to be ashamed of—it’s something to be proud of.

And from all those movies came the dream I’ve never let go of: to be an actress in Hindi Film Cinema.

It’s not about fame. It’s not about money. It’s about expression. It’s about the way music can pull you into a different world. The joy of dancing in rhythm with a feeling. The traditional outfits that carry so much beauty and history in every thread. The way scenes are crafted with so much care, color, and emotion. I want to be a part of that storytelling. I want to give people the same feeling these movies gave me growing up — something heartfelt. 

I don’t know if this dream will come true in the traditional sense. But that doesn’t make it any less important. And in today’s world, we have tools our favorite actresses never had—social media, content creation, the ability to reach people from anywhere. I just need someone to help me bring that dream to life through the camera.

So yes, I’m a DJ. But behind the music and the mic, there’s another version of me—someone who dreams in songs and scenes, who speaks through expressions, and who’s still holding on to a dream that never left her heart.

DJ sVed, Host of The Passenger Seat

If I weren’t a DJ, I would be doing any of the other things I am trying to pursue and balance at the moment. I like to be involved in a lot of things, as I enjoy the diversity that different activities and hobbies bring in terms of skills and social interactions. Aside from learning to be a better DJ, I also play a lot of basketball, skateboard, work with 3D architecture and construction design modeling, travel, work out, and obsess over movies. I think I could take any one of these interests and run with it to make it a full-time passion. There could be a lot of pros and cons to go along with that, but for the moment, I like to be able to wear many different hats. 

In a perfect world where money isn’t a factor, I would be a traveling basketball player visiting the world while competing in tournaments, practicing and furthering my skills in skateboarding as well as construction management and design in different countries. I would use the long flights to watch as many movies as possible. I would also make my own film showing my travels and experiences, and maybe eventually even act. 

Short answer, I would be doing everything I am now, just a little bit more, without being a DJ. But I am happy to have the privilege and opportunities to follow all of my interests. I have been able to build lots of connections with different types of people, and it has given me great people skills and a better overall view of life. It is important to take a step back and respect the overview of your existence, see how it fits in with others around you, and not to get too worked up in specific “smaller” things in life. Those smaller things can seem super big at the moment, but until they pass and you look back on them, it isn’t. 

In my experience, the vast differences in my activities have helped me do this and appreciate life that much more. So do not think of “the master of none” being such a bad path to take. 

DJ Ace, Host of The Fox’s Folley

If I weren’t a DJ, I’d probably still be somewhere in the world of sound. I study film, and one of my dream jobs is to become a Foley artist. I’ve always been drawn to the way sound shapes a story—how it can heighten emotion, build atmosphere, or completely shift how we experience a moment. 

Even outside of film, I’d be happy working in live sound, whether that’s for theater productions or concerts. There’s a real energy in that environment, having to adapt quickly, troubleshoot on the fly, and make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. 

What I love most is that sound work is both creative and technical. It’s often unnoticed when done well, but it’s essential. That balance of subtlety and impact is something I really respect, and it’s a space where I feel both challenged and at home. 

Sound just makes sense to me, no matter the format.