Summer Pre-College Programs

What inspired you to come to Ohio for summer programs?
-I was told by a teacher about the Ohio Art Prize that the college does for high school students, so I submitted something freshman year, and then they told me that I got a scholarship for half off on the program fee. I did film, and then I really liked it so much that I applied the next year for painting and drawing, and then I just I enjoyed doing it, so I came back the third time.

How did you get started in ceramics?
-This is my first time doing it because I hadn't done anything with 3D yet, and I wanted to try that. I do a lot of interdisciplinary stuff, and I thought that this would be a really good introduction to it, especially since I don't have the time on my schedule at my school to do it there.

What is something you learned from your professor, and then what's something you learned from your classmates?
-I've learned a lot from Christopher, also because he taught painting and drawing last year. He tries to push us hard, he has us do exercises where it's like you have to keep adding, keep adding, and keep adding, to like, push the idea further, hit your limit.
I think that's really helpful, and then my classmates have helped me with a lot of technique stuff in terms of ceramic as well, because I had never touched clay before, and I didn't really know that much about it.  There was a learning curve, like knowing nothing and then having to very quickly create like projects and final projects and learn how to build a wheel, and everyone is very helpful with that.

What advice do you have for future students?
-I guess you gotta be open to hanging out with people, because you can spend upwards of 15 hours of the day with someone, and so if you come here nervous about meeting people, you don't have to be, because you will find people.
 

How has your experience been as a commuter student?
-It's been really positive. I’ve met a lot of new people, and have a lot of interactions that I never would have had if I didn't take this program. I had a lot of fun doing it, and it kind of inspired me to maybe continue trying to do more ceramics and 3D art for the rest of my life.

What drew you to this program?
-Well, my dad is a photographer at OHIO, so he knows this program, and he knows the teachers, so he kind of told me a lot about what was gonna happen, and the people here, and it was definitely a right fit. And I've always loved art and ceramics and clay, and I always thought it would be really fun to try out, so that's kind of why I'm here.

What's something that you learned from your professor, and what's something you learned from your classmates?
-So, Christopher has definitely taught me a lot about just kind of everything, honestly.
From forms, and just kind of figuring out how to work with the clay, and just kind of be, like put your ideas and your emotions and just everything into it.

What's something you learned from your professor?
-It's been a great opportunity. I don't even know how to put it into words. I've learned a lot both about clay and just even emotionally, just working with the people here. And I've learned a lot about just kind of going to my limits, and even going beyond that, but also how to recover and be resilient, and come back for that, and keep working with the pieces, even when they seem like they're just falling apart, and nothing is working.
Just kind of stick with it, just give it like a little bit of time, and then just come back to it.
 

What inspired you to come to Ohio for some of the programs?
-I wanted to work on my painting technique and get better. And I wanted to build my portfolio for college and stuff.

How did you get started in painting?
-I got started in painting because I was kind of introduced to it, like acrylic and stuff, and I wanted to try it out. I kind of was doing pretty good, so I kept going and stuff. And I ended up getting mentorship from other people.

What's something you learned from your professor?
What did you learn from your classmates?
-I learned that even if you feel like in an art piece you're not doing your best, you've got to keep going and trust the process. You never know how good it will turn out until you keep going.

What advice do you have for future students in this program?
-The advice I have for future people that go to this program is just have fun, do your best, and try new things, and see what's best for you and stuff.
 

So Lily, you had a scholarship, right? How did you feel about the application process?
-I honestly just submitted some of my paintings and my best works that I feel showcase my talent. It's pretty easy.

What inspired you to come to Ohio?
-I wanted more experience with college art programs and I guess also to build my portfolio.

What are the first things that stood out to you?
-The first things that stood out to me would be the community here. The professors and just how excited everyone is about art.

What's something that you learned from your professors and what's something that you learned from your classmates?
-I guess I learned also to trust the process. Because you'll think that the process for the painting is not good and it doesn't look right, but once you keep going and then you see the final product, you're like, "Okay, this is good."

What advice do you have for future students?
-Probably to just have fun. Enjoy your time here and make good art.
 

What inspired you to come to Ohio University for some programs.
-It was really the only thing I found that had the contemporary program with actual modern production techniques, rather than just like, learning Bach and stuff.

Have you noticed anything change throughout the years as you keep coming back? 
-I think as the program grows, there's definitely more talent coming in. And we're kind of channeling the creativity in more effective ways, which is neat.

How did you first find out about this program and get started in CMDI 
-I think my mom was researching online and she just found it. I was yeah, I considered going to like CIM, but this just had the CMDI program, and no one else could really match that.

What's something you learned from your professor and wasn't like from your classmates?
-I think the biggest thing I've learned to you is just how to effectively work with groups. I'm so used to sitting in my bedroom and doing my stuff that getting out here and collaborating and trying that communicate, our inspirations and stuff has been the most effective thing. I was already pretty well versed in techniques.

What advice you have for future students coming to this program?
-I’d say just be open to trying things and being creative. And don't be afraid to be like an odd one out or anything because really, you're going to be at your best work when you're comfortable. So just go for it.
 

What inspired you to come to Ohio for some programs?
-I'm going here for just university in the fall, and so because of the scholarship, I just felt incentivized, but also I felt like it would be just a good time to get out of my summer habits and have some fun just making music.

What are the first things that stopped you on this program?
-To be honest, the scholarship, but I also thought that it would be just a good experience to have, and thought that would make my summer more interesting.

What got you into music?
-In sixth grade, I ended up taking orchestra, which I was not intending to, and my orchestra teacher was incredibly lovely and somehow got me to be playing the cello for now seven years. And then later in my junior year of high school, I developed more of a passion for songwriting and less classical music and stuff as a part of other band classes.

What's one thing you learned from your professor, and what's one thing you learned from your classmates?
-I'm gonna say the joy of improv. Improv is rad. And then from classmates, that high schoolers are both more and less mature than I'd give them credit for, depending on the person.

What advice do you have for future students?
-I would say be social, spend lots of time as much as you can just working on things related to music outside of class, for example, like writing lyrics or doing mixing or writing melodies or writing any kind of music. And also, just try to get out of your normal habits and not scroll screens forever, like bring a book, I guess, if you're not gonna be working on music. 'Cause it's good to get out of your habits, and it's very easy whenever you're in a different space.

Your major, when you come in?
- When I come here, I'll be music composition.