I attended The Oxbow School in the spring of 2005. It was definitely one of the most important experiences of my life. You taught me how to think deeply about my work and how to accept criticism. It was because of Oxbow that I went on to study filmmaking at The Rhode Island School of Design. I knew that I wanted to continue to surround myself with creative students. After experimenting with all different media at Oxbow, I found that film/video was my calling.

I have since graduated from RISD and started a video production company called Polivision. We specialize in web-based video content. We work regularly with Sotheby's Institute of Art, which is a graduate school for students interested in the business of art.

Advice I would give to future students is to just do it and come to Oxbow and not overthink it because it will most likely (99.9%) be the best decision you have made in your life.

For all of high school I have played after school sports. This took up most of my free time with homework and school taking up the rest. I had been very into art in elementary school and middle school but I found myself with no time to do art anymore. After hearing about the Oxbow school I knew I had to go. Art was a side of me that had been pushed to the back burner and I was excited to hear about an opportunity where art would be front and center.

I was worried about living away from home from 4 months and living with roommates. That being said, I soon realized that neither of these would be issues because I did not get homesick and build very strong bonds quickly with my suite mates.

When I re-enter my sending school, I will take with the curiosity that I have grown while being at Oxbow. I will ask more questions to understand what I am learning instead of just memorizing the material and forgetting about it the next week.

(Oxbow Math) was the first math class that did not make me miserable and that I was actually excited to go to. I loved that we were able to study math in the real world rather than just drilling formulas into our heads- it was far more valuable to me.

I will take the readiness to learn with me. I feel as if I gained an enthusiasm to learn while here, and I want to carry that with me for as long as I can. Attending Oxbow made me excited to learn again and I never want to lose that.

I will re-enter my sending school with greater skills and comfort in writing papers, as well as a heightened capability for critical analysis and discussion. I have also gained the skill of combining in-school academia with real world issues, and wish to continue to use and strengthen this skill.

In the year leading up to Oxbow, I became obsessed with the program, I was entranced with reading testimonials and researching interdisciplinary learning styles. When I arrived at Oxbow I was never disappointed, despite my endless expectations. I will forever cherish the time I spent at Oxbow and the connections I made there. Through Oxbow I was able to hone into the ideas I was thinking about, to refine my artistic process and to see the world in a new light every day of my life. I'm not going to say that without Oxbow I wouldn't be the person I am today, but I will say that without Oxbow it would have taken me at least four years to become who I am after one Oxbow semester.

I studied animation at MICA and while I was in school I auditioned and was hired to work on the Oscar nominated feature film “Loving Vincent”. I traveled to Poland for 6 months to work on it when I was 19. After that film wrapped I finished my degree at MICA and my thesis film “Harls” won “Best in Show” at the MICA Animation Festival. “Harls” was also a semi-finalist in the 45th Annual Student Academy Awards. Right now I’m working as an independent filmmaker and I’m working on a commissioned music video for the band “Air Stranger”. I first experimented with animation at Oxbow so thank you guys!! Miss that place!

Artistically, I learned a lot of new techniques and mediums while here. I had access to much more than before and I made the most of it. I tried everything I could and always talked to my teachers and peers about new ways I could make art. Every so often, I completely stepped out of my comfort zone. Experimenting with technique and testing my artistic boundaries has helped me realize how many paths I have to choose from in the art world and that makes me excited for the future.

I have learned so many skills and habits that have made me a better person throughout my time here. To name a few: I have learned how to be a good roommate, how to communicate, and how to trust myself. I have learned the importance of staying hydrated, getting good sleep, and having a clean work space. I have learned how to share space both in the studios and dorms. Lastly, I have learned that it’s okay to advocate for what you need and that there is no harm in asking for help or support.