It's great because you know these people, you see them every day, everybody's working hard, but you don't always see what they're doing. And this time of the year, you get to see the fruits of their labor. Everyone's personalities are reflecting in their scintillating work. I'm amazed by the quality of work that comes from many of the students here. April is my favorite month of the year because everyone is having final shows.

COMMUNING
I've had a few very excellent professors here who have pushed me to bring more depth to my own work and refine my style.  Overall, it's a super creative atmosphere and I love that.  The Neuberger Museum hosts a visiting artist lecture series the first Wednesday of every month.  Exposure to these artists has been a big part of my education here. 

I want to continue to be creative in the fields of video and design and Purchase has shown me that there are pocket communities where creativity abounds.  I drive down to Manhattan on many weekends and set up shop to sell T-shirts that I print.  And my big goal is to live in a commune upstate at some point.

It is a very open-minded community here for a young artist.  Very accepting of all sexualities.  You can be yourself and not be afraid to talk about it because people embrace differences.

FILM CLASSES
I've also attended some Cinema Studies classes that have given me some base knowledge of cinematic history and language.  I took Cinematic Expression 1 with Anne Kern and sat in on Cinematic Expression 2 with Michelle Stewart.  Yeah, you just learn a little bit of the language to talk about films, certain vocabulary, how to pick apart scenes and camera angles, as well as rhythms and pacing, plot development.

PUBLISHING WORK
There are also small bonuses like The Submission magazine here on campus that comes out every two months.  I recently had one of my pieces called "Evaporated Thought" appear in there alongside a poem on the next page. I feel that there is no end to the arts here.  They live and breathe and receive constant support.