Why did you decide to enroll in Summer Institute?

I decided to enroll in Summer Institute because it seemed like the perfect opportunity to experience art history in the heart of the art world: New York City. I was very excited to have the chance to live on my own in the city, which I hoped would prepare me for my future education. I was also eager to share my passion for art history with other people my age from around the world.

Which course did you enroll in and why?

I enrolled in the Art History course because, at the time, I was considering studying the subject in college. I wanted to take the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the field and decide if it was something I wanted to pursue. This experience helped me solidify my decision to study it further.

What significance does studying in New York City hold for you, and what was the most interesting thing you learned or experienced during your time there?

Studying in New York City meant so much to me—not only because of the appeal of experiencing big-city life as someone from Wichita, Kansas, but also because the city is filled with some of the most prestigious museums in the world. It’s also a hub of international cultures and languages. New York felt like the perfect place to explore every aspect of what I was considering for my future, and I found it to be an amazing experience.

Describe your favorite day of the program. Where did you go and who did you meet?

My favorite day of the program was when a group of friends and I went to SoHo together. All of us were from different backgrounds, but we all bonded that day. We went to a nice cafe, shopped a bit in SoHo, and then rushed back to campus. It was a wonderful time, and I will always have a special place in my heart for the memories we made in the subway, going up to our rooms in the dorm elevators, and eating in the dining hall.

What was your day-to-day experience like?

My day-to-day experience was what I would imagine the life of a character in a TV show or movie to be like. I would begin my morning by waking up in my dorm and getting ready for the day while chatting with my roommate. Somedays, I would go to a nearby cafe and get matcha before heading to class. In class surrounded by new friends, I would happily take notes and participate in discussions about art.

We would then take a lunch break, which was a nice time to bond with fellow classmates, and go on a trip in the afternoon. During these site visits, we were given the chance to see the physical representation of what we had learned in class. I loved exploring art and artifacts with my peers and professor, posing questions and commenting on what we observed. Finally, the day would end with some work in the library on our final project or a slice of New York-style pizza in my dorm. Every day was amazing, and I went to bed each night eager for the next to begin.

How did your experience at Summer Institute influence your perspective on your future studies or career path?

My experience at Summer Institute helped me to transform my passion for art history into a concrete plan to pursue it further in college. It also exposed me to different cultures and languages, further reinforcing my interest in international relations. This experience combined all of my passions and allowed me to focus on them, solidifying them as part of my identity.

Do you have any advice for future Summer Institute students?

Take hold of every part of the experience—you may be rewarded in ways you can’t imagine. I had spent years studying Mandarin, mostly online, with few opportunities to ever speak the language. During this program I was able to speak in Mandarin to many people, and it helped me to form many relationships. I hadn’t foreseen this happening, but it turned out to be one of the most fulfilling parts of the program. I would advise future students to embrace their identity and let it shape their time in the program.