In Summary: A Retrospective of My Time at MSA

For my final blog, I wanted to give a semi-autobiographical look into my life these past few years, and how I got to where I am now. I hope that you will find some similarities through my experiences, as well as inspiration from my journey. I also want to take a minute to thank each and every one of you reading this, literary students or not. You have supported my art and my journey, and I can never repay you for that gift. Thank you and please enjoy.

From Pre-K 3 to 10th grade, I attended St. Andrews Episcopal School. I grew up at that school, around those people, and I learned so much. I am eternally grateful that my parents cared enough about my education that they sent me to such an expensive school. Even with financial aid, St. Andrews still costs an arm and a leg. Their education is top tier and easily worth every penny spent. My academic journey was supported every step of the way and St. Andrews is where I found my love of learning. I fell in love with English and writing through the curriculum there. I took Latin classes for multiple years, which further supported my interest in non-modern pieces of literature. I was supported by the teachers, who appreciated my commitment to my classwork. The only thing I lacked at that school was community.

I had friends at my old school, some of which I still talk to today, but I felt out of place for the longest time. It wasn’t till my last year at St. Andrews that it truly felt like a home. I felt like I had to hide so much of myself just to fit into the status quo and the standards set up by everyone else there. I felt like a complete outsider for years, and I struggled to maintain a social life. My grades were perfect but my mental health was not. I knew I needed an environment that supported my creativity just as much as it did my academics. Then, like the universe could hear my thoughts, I was sent a letter. 

I don’t remember exactly when I got my letter about MSA, but I remember that it immediately piqued my interest. I had never heard of MSA before, even in my years of researching art school. Funnily enough, I had plans in eighth grade to apply to an art school in New Orleans, though I never went through with it. But in tenth grade, I got a letter in the mail and that was my sign to try again. I completed the entire application process by myself, only once requiring my mom’s assistance. I remember going to get my letters of recommendation from my teachers at St. Andrews. My advisor (he had been my history teacher in ninth grade as well) was saddened by the idea of me leaving but was excited to see where I would go in my artistic journey. My counselor was similarly supportive and talked to me about how she had heard good things about MSA and was excited for me to apply. My creative writing teacher was the only one who put up a fight. 

Dr. Smith was my creative writing teacher in tenth grade. Creative writing had been the artistic elective I had chosen that year. In my freshmen year, it hadn’t been an option and I had doubled in Journalism and Graphic Design instead. My sophomore year was Dr. Smith’s first year of teaching creative writing in quite a long time. He was an AP English teacher and had taught creative writing at colleges in the past. He was the best teacher I’ve ever had. He supported my writing, encouraged my work, and never held back on feedback. He taught me so much and I am eternally grateful for him. When I told him I planned to switch schools, he wasn’t pleased. He was honest and told me that he didn’t want to see me go. He had hoped that I would’ve stayed in his creative writing class for my junior and senior years, and that I would’ve applied to his AP English course as well. He understood my desire to surround myself with creatives and seek out a more supportive environment, but he still wanted me to stay. I nearly broke down, telling him about how I loved his class but, for my mental health, I needed a new environment. He understood. 

Audition day was nerve wracking, but I still had so much fun. I have so many pictures with my parents from my first time on campus. I met so many wonderful people and immediately felt welcomed. When I was accepted to MSA, I was ecstatic. I had applied to both literary and theater, as I am just as much of an actor as I am a writer, but I chose literary. I am so grateful that I did. While I would’ve been just as happy as a theater student, the MSA literary department has supported my artistic journey as an author in ways I cannot even begin to thank them for. I’ve gotten so many opportunities thanks to Dr. Alexis and all of her support. I’ve gotten amazing feedback from my peers and have met so many talented authors in both my junior and senior years. I have grown as an author as well as a person. 

My time at MSA has truly been more than I could’ve ever asked for. I’ve made some life long friends at this school, met some insanely talented people, and learned so much about myself. I never would’ve become the person I am now without the support of this school and the community. Even when things were hard, I had friends from MSA to keep me sane. I am eternally grateful to this school. I am excited to graduate nonetheless. It will be sad to say goodbye to my juniors, as well as my senior friends who are going out of state for college, but I’m prepared for that sadness. This isn’t goodbye, this is see you soon!