When I was first accepted into the Tufts SMFA program, I was worried about the amount of freedom I would suddenly have. I’ve lived in small towns my whole life, and have always loved structure. Plus, I’d never been away from home by myself before. Seeing that we were allowed to go nearly anywhere in Boston with a group, and how open my program was, I felt a shiver run down my spine. After arriving, I quickly dropped that fear that was dragging me down. And surprisingly? It was really easy. I felt so at ease from the moment the program started. There was never a moment I felt anxious, and coming from a very anxious person, that was absolutely shocking.
After settling into the comfortable routine that the three-week SMFA program provided, I don’t think there was a single Tuesday or Thursday that I didn’t go out with my friends. As we learned to navigate the T and its ever-changing schedule, I never felt nervous reaching out to my RC to update her or let her know that the subway was late. I always had enough time to complete homework or any piece that I wanted to work on. It felt safe to go out with a large group of friends, and I found I loved exploring the city. Now, I can’t even remember the reasons I was scared.
This might have been partly due to the way the art program was formatted. It fit me perfectly. There was plenty of open-studio time, where we could work on whatever project sparked inspiration. We went on multiple field trips, most notably the Isabella Stewart-Gardner Museum and, of course, the MFA itself. I found so much inspiration from both new and old pieces. We had three core classes, most of which had ample time to work by yourself, but somehow still felt very inclusive. There’s something beautiful about working separately next to others, just knowing you’re in the presence of artists on their own journey. The instructors and TAs were all so genuinely wonderful. I had so many conversations with them that I value and hold dearly to my heart. Most time was open to your individual needs, and I found myself in my own world quite a lot. However, I never felt stuck or lost the way I do when I’m working by myself. I always knew that I could just walk up to somebody, not necessarily an instructor or TA, but my peers as well, and ask for their opinion. That notion of being independent but still being with others was game-changing. As an artist, I often feel isolated in my art, but I cannot describe how differently I felt in my program. I never felt lonely. I struck up conversations with like-minded people constantly, just because I could and they were there. It was amazing to see how much I could bond with people over three weeks. I sincerely hope that I’ve made life-long friends through Tufts SMFA.