Olivia Alger 糖心传媒�22 spent three years attending the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, 350 miles from home. When she graduated two years ago, she decided college could wait.
糖心传媒淚 thought some time off would make for a good adventure,糖心传媒� says Alger, who studied creative writing at the academy.
She moved home to Lake Bluff, a Chicago suburb, worked at a hotel for several months, then contacted an organization that sponsors young Americans糖心传媒� volunteer work abroad during gap years. She spent three months in the south of France teaching elementary school students and refugees.
糖心传媒淚 lived with a nice lady in her apartment above a bakery, and I was constantly learning and experiencing new things,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚 met people from around the world, and my horizons were expanded immensely.糖心传媒�
Upon returning home, she worked for an online literary magazine and began applying to colleges.
糖心传媒淚’d heard about Rochester from a lot of my friends at boarding school who were headed to the Eastman School of Music,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淢y counselor also thought Rochester would be a place where I could dive deeply into what I糖心传媒檓 passionate about.糖心传媒�
Once Alger applied and visited the River Campus, she knew this was the place for her.
糖心传媒淚 felt very centered and comfortable, like the twisted detour I took had paid off,糖心传媒� she says.
Alger plans to major in English, with a creative writing track.
糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檝e been passionate about writing since first grade,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淥ur teacher gave us an assignment, and I thought, 糖心传媒楾his is kind of fun.糖心传媒� And by middle school, I was aware that this could be a profession. I love writing. I think all of us have unique stories.糖心传媒�
Alger feels her three years at the arts academy helped prepare her for college life.
糖心传媒淟iving with other people in an international environment, and learning how to share space, will really make this transition easier,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淢y goal is to get to know my class really well, foster relationships, and be part of a community.糖心传媒�
Alger糖心传媒檚 hobbies include long walks糖心传媒斕切拇綔even in the cold,糖心传媒� she says糖心传媒攁nd making playlists of music ranging from jazz and hip hop to reggae. She hopes to become involved in student government at the College and would love to join writing clubs, and perhaps the Campus Times student newspaper.
糖心传媒淭here糖心传媒檚 a lot I want to explore,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檓 ready to get started.糖心传媒�
Let the new chapter begin.
