Rhode Island School of Design Top Questions

I HAVEN'T ATTENDED COLLEGE YET BUT I HAVE WANTED TO FOR A LONG TIME. I START THIS SPRING AT WESTERN WYOMING COMMUNITY COLLEGE. MY FATHER GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL BUT MY MOTHER DID NOT. I WILL BE THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND TO ME THAT WILL MEAN MORE TO ME THEN ANYTHING. I FEEL THAT COLLEGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP OF MY LIFE. I HOPE , BY ME DOING SO, MY CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN WILL DO THE SAME.

My college experience has been invaluable. Here at RISD I'm encouraged to grow and thrive. Returning to school is no easy task and it takes a great level of courage to get the most out of ones education. By attending this university I will have an abundance of opportunities both academically and professionally. Today's job market place is increasingly competitive and it is up to us as students to take advantage of every opportunity presented to us—education is that chance and that opportunity, to get the best education available to me will allow me the possibility of success in my future. I have access to great experienced minds here on campus and I think the biggest value in education is exposure and access to information. I believe in an individual’s ability to learn and grow on their own but with the aid of capable instructors and worthy academic institution a student can develop even further. I have been exposed to a variety of new and exciting information here at RISD and I am encouraged to think and live with innovation in mind. Knowledge is in an essential nutrient to all people and having access is key.

One of the best qualities that I have gain at my time at risd is working with others, I had many opportunity’s to learn and observer other people’s creative process I find a great fassination with individuals who view thing differently from my self. Which have provived many window’s of oppertunirty to learn new ways of thinking, I Know for certain from the education that Im reseving at risd that will always be ready to adapted to any environment I have the ability to function well as a member of a team, I find myself continually looking for opportunities to work with people, and to make valuable contributions. one of the great effects that risd has had on me is to search for and Focus on high-priority tasks, and finish what I start. attending risd I will be more than ready to tackle on any obstacles that I may face in the art in design world. The world is changing rapidly. More jobs require education beyond high school. College graduates have more jobs to choose from than those who don't pursue education beyond high school. at risd i feel totally guided and cared for.

The most valuable experiences while attending Risd has been meeting new people. Even with the school's expansive collection of original paintings and hard-to-get texts of artists from all over the world, teachers and friends have given me broader perspectives on life that has made me reconsider why I would even want to stay in this school. Rather than working day and night on creating portfolios to prepare for an industry that may involve a good chunk of my life, they have made me more aware of myself as a person and my interactions with other people: how much I am doing merely for a comfortable future and a steady income, and how much I could be doing instead by engaging with more people more deeply, and not just with those inside the industry that share the same interests, but even with those with whom our interests may conflict. They have made me aware that my possible career as somebody who works in the mass media will impact an entire society, and that all of us must be aware of what is being fed into us and in turn what we consciously or unconsciously feed others.

Overall, I think that the college experience is amazing even though it can very hectic at times and you might feel stressed out. However, I do think that it is very valuable and every time you spend of it is worth because it is your education, the basis of the your development, and one of the most important things in life because it is the only thing that no one can take away from you. It is pivotal in life to attend college because it is the only method of getting a well paid job that gives you the opportunity to maintain yourself and help your family.

I would tell myself that the education that I will get in college is preparing and setting myself up for the future. The most important thing to remember is that you need to attend a college that will not only push you to want to better but to challenge you so that you're able to tackle any obstacle thats comes your way. Another thing to keep in mind is that when entering school as a freshman, don't be afraid to put yourself out there and meet new people. Take advantage of the various people you can meet, and the well known professors that you'll have because networking is a vital part to getting connections in the future. Go somewhere that will push to work, push to become involved and push you to be the best person you can be.

It's even better than you think it is going to be. Open up to everyone, see what they have to say and just go from there. Remember that you are here because you don't know everything, and that you will know a lot more even after one studio. And no one here is as good as they think they are, they're only as good as what others think of their work, and how they recact with others. If they think their shit doesn't stink, then they are in for a bumpy ride. Keep all your doors open, don't settle down to create your own style, it will come to you. And with that, have fun, work hard, but be merry!

Present Self: Oh Mariah you?re so young and na?ve, you cannot imagine what you will learn in one future year! Past Self: Um this is very strange; can?t you just tell me what I will learn? Or what I should know? Present self: Fine. Hmm, let?s see you will probably figure this out anyway but you should ONLY apply to schools you are seriously going to attend (not your list of 15 schools). You need to choose a major, and it has to be something that?s very creative, and something you LOVE (because you?re going to be doing it for the rest of your life). Oh yea and those general tips are really true: use your time management skills, use the facilities, and take care of yourself (that includes exercising and not eating chocolate all the time!). Let?s see, keep working really hard, search for scholarships, and build up your portfolio. Oh yea, and don't submit applications last minute in a snowstorm as the post office closes (stress-level rises and parents become filled with rage)! Ultimately keep at it, you'll do great!

To not be so afraid. I spent alot of time and stress worrying about change. But the thing is, change is inevitable. And that change is good. Because I went to a school far from home, and an art school--something very different from what was normal at home, I forced myself to see and experience new things, and I am so grateful i did that because it has enriched my life so much. I just wish that I had known that just because I was going away to school didnt mean I was losing my family and my friends and my comforts. They will always be there for me, encouraging me forward into new things. I wish I hadn't been so catious going into school. Embrace the change!

If I could speak with my former self as I faced the prospect of leaving high school behind me, I would tell myself not to be so afraid of the unknown. For me, college used to repesent a dark and scary transition into the real world that I wasn't ready for. What I've come to realize is that it isn't as great a leap as I expected. Everyone understands the anxiety of starting in a new place, and I've found myself making friends without even trying, because everyone else is just as eager to belong as I am. Everyday, I am surrounded by teachers and classmates who all care about my growth and guide me along the way. In the end, I went to the Rhode Island School of Design with the purpose of achieving my dream of being an artist. Even though it may have seemed daunting, I surprised myself with how prepared I actually was. If I hadn't taken that chance and trusted that I could transition to college life, I would never have known my potential.