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Spotlight
Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc.
Spotlight on Peer Leader Marie Saint-Cyr
An interview with Marie Saint-Cyr
1.What is the educational experience abroad like? How does it compare to that at home?
The educational experience abroad is very different from the one back at my home college. At the Lorenzo De Medici the teachers help us learn about the way we approach art instead of just creating it. The process behind the artwork is more important than the technicality. I feel that I have definitely grown a lot by attending this school. I have produced triple the amount of artwork here than I usually do back at FIT, in one semester. Although the workload is a lot, I am enjoying it. Compared the FIT, here at Lorenzo de Medici, I am given more freedom to pursue what I want to do. The teachers also help guide me in the right direction. For the second half of the semester, all of the students have to work on their own independent project, which I really like because it allows me to pursue something that I am really interested in. The classes here are also very small, only 9 students or less, compared to FIT where there would be 21 students in a painting class. Overall, I have gained quite a bit of knowledge from studying abroad that supplements my education at the Fashion Institute of Technology back at home.
2. Are there other students from the states and other parts of the world involved with the program?
There are about seven other students from my major that are also participating in the program, but overall there are about 300 students from FIT that are involved with the program. There are also many other students from around the world that are involved with the program, mainly from England.
3. Have you made new friends and learned anything new about life from being abroad?
I have made a lot of new friends during my stay in Italy. Many of my classmates from FIT that are also involved with the program, I have become close friends with them. I am also happy that I became close with my housemates, especially my roommate Clara, who is also from FIT. While traveling across Europe I have met a lot of amazing people who made me laugh and helped me navigate my way around Europe. I have learned a lot about life from being abroad. It was very interesting to see how friendly and laid back many of the people in Europe were. While on tour in Denmark, a tour guide told us that in that country, many take time out to "relax and make sure that they hurry less as they and work toward satisfaction". I have decided to make my new motto for life. I have learned to be more relaxed and to embrace change! I have definitely grown from being abroad.
4. How has your relationship with Your Time For Creative Empowerment prepared you to deal with life away from home as a college freshman?
My relationship with Your Time For Creative Empowerment helped me learn to be less shy and to be more comfortable approaching people. I am very grateful to Ms. Lacy for helping me grow and become a more mature young lady. Attending the networking workshop as a High School Senior taught me some networking skills, which I am using a lot now.
Founder's Note
Marie Saint-Cyr's initial contact with Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc., was as a Westbury High School Senior who participated in our Creative Empowerment Arts Contest in 2014. Marie was one of 14 students from high schools countywide, who participated that year. Since then, she has participated in our workshops, our fundraising gala and has assumed the office of a Your Time For Creative Empowerment Peer Leader who has volunteered her services to the nonprofit.
Marie has just returned home to the U. S from studying abroad in Italy as a first year student of the Fashion Institute of Technology. In the spirit of creative empowerment, I am happy to share on this page, an interview with Marie Saint-Cyr while she was abroad.
I am happy to announce that Marie has graciously accepted an invitation to facilitate a workshop at the upcoming Self-Empowering Workshop For College-Bound High School Students/ Community Networking Soiree on July 9th at Molloy College. Parents and high school students can look forward to receiving tips on how high school students can prepare themselves for the opportunity to study abroad -- a feat she accomplished during her first year at college. An exciting time awaits as she shares visuals and stories about her experience in Europe.
Madona Cole-Lacy
