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What's your earliest memory of making art?

My earliest memory is taking a photograph of my parents greeting each other when they got home from work. It wasn't a stunningly amazing picture but I thought that the moment I caught was beautiful enough to make me want to make more beautiful things.

Did you take a lot of art classes in high school?

I took black and white photography all throughout high school, but it wasn't until my senior year when I filled my schedule with all art classes: photography, crafts, ceramics, jewelry, and enamel.

Why did you choose to attend an art + design school?

I figured that if I was going to go to college, I wanted to really enjoy what I was doing there. Besides art, I wasn't sold on anything else. Any other career I thought of was just something that would make money and I realized that I'd rather love what I did instead of go through the motions of anything else.

What made you choose CIA?

I first heard of CIA through a friend of mine who was set on coming here. I also talked to my art teachers, most of whom are alumni. After talking to as many people as I knew that had information about CIA, I thought that this was the best option for me.

What made you choose your major?

I came here to be in photography, but I knew that I didn't want to work digital and I found that that was a large aspect of the photography major. I chose to take the craft environment elective freshman year, where I was able to make things in ceramics, glass, enamel and metal. I soon learned that I wanted to create things with my hands, which is one of the best things about craft. I am now able to see something and figure out how it is made. It's a rewarding feeling to think you know how to do something and then find that you actually did it.

Is having your own studio important to your education? And how about interaction with classmates, is that important to your education?

Having my own studio makes CIA feel like a second home. I know that I have a place here and I can do whatever I choose. Being able to have a dialogue with classmates allows everyone involved to bounce ideas from each other, and allows for greater knowledge. Others will give you a different perspective, tell you something you don't know, and teach you how to work within a community.

How are your relationships with CIA faculty different than your relationships with your high school teachers?

You're able to get to know the faculty on another level. They tell us about their lives and their work, and how their experiences shaped them. It's good to have someone to talk to who's gone through what you're doing.

What one thing about the CIA experience surprised you the most?

I was surprised with how much I've changed. Everything has affected me differently, the work that is expected of us, the people I've met, the way that we have to think to make something worthwhile. I believe that the change is for the better.

What would you say to a high school student considering attending CIA?

I would say make sure you know what you want. This place is not for the weak. If you’re up to the challenge, it will make you that much better.