I wanted to update you to let you know that I will be going to college next year! I will be attending Bates College where I will study Entertainment Business or Non-Profit management. I want to thank you again for supporting me last summer in attending the Academy of Art Pre-College Summer Program.  I can't wait to continue working hard as a college student. Thank you again!

As I rode in on BART around 7 in the morning, my leg was shaking to and from, because I was jittery to find out what my day would be like. I walked into the fashion building to arrive at my Introduction to Textiles and Knitwear class. I arrived to a room that was brightly lit and a lot of people sitting around a table. Everyone looked very different from each other and I loved it. There was a girl from Napa with purple hair and another girl from Florida with red hair and pink nails. Each of us had different interests and purposes for joining the class. 

We were split into two groups and I stayed in the knitwear class. The teacher instructed us through the process of how to use the knitting machine. My big fingers made the hooks look very small next to my hand, which made it a bit challenging to create something. Honestly, the first day was frustrating because I kept messing up and did not finish my scarf; I ended up with an unfinished swatch.
As I waited in front of the fashion building for the shuttle bus, I was really excited to find out what my architecture class would be like. When I got to the building, I was amazed to see what a creative place it was. Open and airy, I could see how inspiration can be endless. I was immediately excited for my classes. I sat down and the first thing we did was go outside of the building and we drew for around three hours. Granted, I did not know how to draw and most of my sketches were interesting, but I had a lot of fun. After the class period was done, I spent some time after class learning some tips on how to draw, and I got better.
I was really surprised to observe how much dedication and skill it takes for a person to hone a talent of the art. For example, in my architecture class, I dedicated a lot of time to the drafting of drawings of buildings that surrounded us. Each detail consumed a large amount of time that allowed me to hone a certain skill in architecture design. In my introduction to textiles and knitwear class, I had a really difficult time trying to create projects since I needed to be better with my hands in order to create excellent detail and procedure. It is difficult to learn, but once I had it down, nothing could get in my way. 
From this experience, I hoped to learn if I am interested in Architecture or Design, and if I liked other forms of art, like acting. What I found out about my experience is that I think that I would want to be something like an architect when I go into the professional world. I don’t think that it necessarily has to be “Architecture” but maybe Urban Planning or Construction Management. 
I would definitely recommend the Academy of Art to a student who is interested in the fields that this college offers because it takes the learning that we have at school about the arts and heightens the experience. It is great for students who also want to understand how college professors teach because it was drastically different than in high school where the schedule is more rigid and teachers are more involved academically in the instruction.
Here are some pictures from my experience:
This is what my desk looked like for my Introduction to Architecture class at the Academy of Art. I was working on a scaled drawing of a view in the building itself:

I want to thank you so much for funding my summer experience. Without your contribution, I wouldn't be able to participate in my amazing summer program. I always use my summers to explore new horizons and careers, and this summer is no different. I want to see what it is like to study architecture through art and mechanics. Again, I appreciate your contribution.