In college, Lana did volunteer work for homeless youth as well as helped paint and rebuild houses on an Indian reservation in Utah. She stated that this trip was integral in helping her decide to become a songwriter: "I remember exactly when I decided that I wanted to be a singer. I was in college, [and] we went to the Indian reservation. That day I realized that I had only two options: either making music or volunteering for a good cause. I chose the first option. If it [had] not [worked], I would [have] probably [done] social work in any small town."