Cornish College of the Arts Top Questions

I would look myself in the eye and say "don't be afraid to speak up". In high school I was extremely quiet. And I feel that after attending college and making friends and opening up to people I feel that I could have learned a lot more and helped more people if only I had spoken up in high school. Also I would tell myself "don't be afraid to live your dream". Since I was so silent in high school I never got the chance to do everything I wanted to do because I was afraid of what people would say or of getting rejected. But now in college I know, that to live my dream as a theater major, I have to be a theater major. Finally I would tell myself that life can be frustrating, and tuff, but you always have great friends and a support system to get you through it. Never feel like your alone.

I came into Cornish knowing that i had this dream of being a set designer. I had no previous experience, came here and learned so much that has even helped me in my everyday life today. In my field they have taught me pratical things and have put them to the test immediatly by being put on crews and doing class projects. Today i am paying for my experience knowing that one day i will be paid for my experience. Cornish is valuable to attend because it is a hands on school. For people who learn like this, for example most artist, it is a great experience to be immersed in their art and every other art as well. Learning not only what their department has to offer but what every department has to offer.

Since the age of fifteen, I have been attending college as a full-time student. In Washington State, where I live and attend school, there is program called Running Start. This program allows highschool Juniors and Seniors to attend a community college with tuition paid in full as long as you qualify academically. I've never been so greatful for such an experience. Being homeschooled my entire academic life, and shifting into something so public as community college was an eye-openning experience for me. I knew exactly what I wanted; and that was what I called, "the full college experience". To me, this meant not only going to class, but also, checking out all of the sports teams, participating in clubs and events, runnning for student leadership groups or positions, attending an actual graduation ceremony, among many other activities. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do everything on my list. When I graduated with my Associate's Degree at seventeen, I was rather unsatisfied with my attempt. I promised my self that when I went to my four year school I would do everything on that list. So far I've been pleased with efforts.

I have been able to validate my passion by actively seeking a better program that will supplement my life after college. After transferring to Cornish, I have access to incredible professors/mentors and inspirational peers who are helping to shape me into a capable and competitive artist. The reason I chose to attend college instead of going straight to the theater industry and auditioning right out of high school was to build a network of artists who will advise, support and connect me with people in the entertainment industry. I am also able to back up my work with a degree, which will make me marketable in other circuits such as community outreach and education. The value in my degree also symbolizes a great medal of honor and pride for my family, my community, and my future children. Nothing worth having, in my eyes, is merely given; you must work and build up a support group to help you when necessary. College is my preliminary work. It is the true test of my dedication and a testament of my passion. The value of a college education, for me, exceeds the lines of text above; it is absolutely invaluable.

College thus far has given me the chance to grow into my own person and expand my artistic voice and broaden my horizons. I have been able to see my artistic skills already improve within these three years. Working around other creative people and in an environment that is there to support your artistic voice and growth, really has helped me grow as an artist and a person. Also being around other people with different artistic mindsets has broadened my horizons. I have attended more plays, ballets, and concerts within these three years, then ever before. By attending these things I have been able to experience an extreme amount of culture and all the possibilities the world has to offer. With my College only offering different courses in different art forms, is a great place to be because all of the students going there have a good idea of what they want to do, so this allows a sense of everyone being responsible about why they are going to school.

I believe that a college education is the most valuable thing that a person can obtain. In this day of age someone cannot be fully successful without a degree. I feel blessed that I have been able to attend 2 years of Jr. College and look forward to furthering my education at a University and then afterwards at Medical School. I fully take advantage of my good fortune and attend all of my classes daily. To me it is so amazing to learn something in class, and then later use it in a real life setting. Biology/Pre Med is a great major and really relates to day to day activities. Whether it is something as simple as a plant or as advanced as cancer cells everything that I learn in the classroom will be used later. Attending college provides so many opportunities for graduates over someone who did not get a higher education. It may be a difficult process to complete; but in the end with degree in hand, I am sure that I will realize how all of my hard work and effort I put in for many years will be worth it.

College has given me it's worste. It's pulled at my seams, thrown me for a loop, and pulled the rug out from under my feet. All of it, however, has been worth it. The insurmountable stress and anxiety has forced me to make some very positive changes. First and foremost, I've learned to listen to my inner self, and honor what it tells me. College is all about self discovery and self improvment, and without that crucial sense of "self", neither would be possible. "Self" does not mean what's popular, what's normal, or what's easiest. It's taken me my first semester at Cornish Colleges of the Arts to fully appretiate that phrase. As an artist living on my own, a firm belief in my self is the strongest resource I've got. Being independent isn't so scary anymore because college has taught me to trust myself. I can do it, and I believe that.

My school is a really vibrant artistic community. I am only a small part of a larger varied group of artists. It is a really great feeling to walk down the halls, looking at the walls of paintings, hearing the distant sound of piano practice as a group of actors practice for an audition. It's a little loud and a little hectic, but it is inspiring to see others work while I work on my own. My department can be pretty demanding, often requiring 30 hours of classtime, 20+ hours of outside work on upcoming productions, and at least 3 hours of homework a night, but my feild is a demanding one and I think any with any less work I would not have learned as much as I have. They push us hard, and it is not an easy program but it's what I love. I wouldn't have been able to learn this, and still have a larger community of artists surrounding me.

Cornish College of the Arts is well worth its expenisve price tag because, it has not only taught me valuable information about my future job but about myself as well. Cornish has made me a more responsible and creative artist and person. The staff pushes students to their maximum and provides them with valuable knowledge as well as job networking. The campus is vibrant and full of diverse people that inspire me and I know that I will be well prepared to enter the job field with my education from Cornish College of the Arts!

My art has changed and improved dramatically after just one semester at Cornish. In addition to learning to think more conceptually and to produce professional caliber work, I've begun to better understand the deeper purpose of art, which is to lead the evolution of human consciousness. Artists have always been on the forefront of new thought in any culture, and fine art schools like Cornish take the lead in educating artists to think deeply and broadly. Art can influence human culture in many positive ways. It can shock or cajole, or gently remind us of things that need to change. It can show us the other side of the coin, so to speak, and make us consider things we hadn't thought of before. Cornish has helped me to understand my place in the world as an artist and to realize the valuable contributions I can make toward a better world through my art. My confidence in my art has grown tremendously, yet the hard work and rigorous critiques that are a daily part of life at Cornish have kept me humble and nonegotistical. In short, Cornish is my path to becoming a true artist.