Idyllwild Arts Academy - Review #11

This school was unique in the way that everything was geared to the arts. Even the academics were always related to the arts, and the isolation from technology and big cities really encouraged creativity. The campus was also on a mountain filled with trees and nature, so not only did that make the campus smell great but it allowed students to constantly be inspired by the beautiful views and to find solitude if we so desired. I don't think any school in the world is as deeply embedded with nature and completely dedicated to the arts.

The best thing was that I went to boarding school. The whole experience was magical and really took my out of my comfort zone, but in a very safe way. I learned how to be independent, how to take care of myself, and how to ask for help whenever I needed it. The whole experience was one of the best things that has happened to me in my life, because that's where I got my education as an artist and where I really decided the route that my life was going to take. Going to boarding school also prepared me for college in an amazing way; I only realized how independent and self-sufficient I had become after being in college for a year.

I would have liked to create more art independently; instead of only using the platforms that the school already offered. I think that when someone fully creates something and also creates the platform for themselves to share their art, they grow immensely and get to know themselves and their creation process much better. I wouldn't have been afraid to go outside the norm and to really do what I wanted to do. My advice to new kids going to boarding school is to not be afraid to fully immerse yourself in the experience, to just jump into the rabbit hole and trust that there will always be someone there to take care of you if you need it. To not be afraid to get to know yourself in a much deeper level, and to enjoy becoming who you want to become.

The atmosphere. Words fall short when I try to describe the magic, the kindness, the openness, and the friendship I found in Idyllwild.

Enjoy the nature! Go to the amphitheater, walk around, explore the beautiful woods that surround Idyllwild. And if you get to go to the Grotto, DO IT! It's magical.

The academics were great. We were allowed to choose which classes we took, and there were many options that catered to what each student wanted to do. There were a lot of classes with a lighter academic load and many others with a bigger load, so each person could choose to push him/herself as much as they wanted. All of the topics were also very interesting, and even the "regular" classes like physics and calculus has a twist to them that made them interesting. All of the teachers were very nice and understanding, and since they were also interested in the arts we were allowed to do most of the final projects on topics related to our chosen art major.

Since IAA is all about the arts, there weren't many athletics offered. I know that the freshmen and sophomores had to take a PE class, but since I was a dance major I got enough physical activity every day so I never felt like I needed more exercise. During our free hours we sometimes played soccer or frisbee with my friends, and there was also a gym and a running club that we could participate in whenever we wanted. I always got enough physical activity as a dancer, so this was something I never worried about.

All of the different art departments in this school are superb. All of the teachers are or were professionals in their field, and are incredibly knowledgeable and kind. Every department has a solid curriculum of classes, and each student also constantly gets enough individual attention. All of the performances and shows are incredible; I was constantly blown away by what my peers created, and we were also constantly encouraged to "think outside the box" so I always felt like the sky was the limit.

There were many clubs and organizations that were mostly run by students available to everyone, and they were all very interesting and specific. From running club to anime to Russian literature to language conversation clubs, there was something for everyone. And we were always encouraged to create our own clubs if we wanted to. It was always nice that I could show up to any club meeting whenever I wanted to; I didn't need to be a regular to attend, and everyone was always welcome. Most clubs also had regular performances or open discussions, so I felt like a participant even though I didn't always show up.

We were separated mostly by age and by gender, but all of the dorms were walking distance so I could always visit my friends if they lived in another dorm. My favorite part was that each dorm had a few faculty members, "dorm parents", that were constantly there and available for anything we needed. Although they were authority figures, they were very approachable and treated us like human beings and not just like another number in their roster. Some of the best conversations I had were with my dorm parents over a nice cup of tea.

I thought the food was delicious, and there were always many many options for us to choose from for every meal of the day. There was a hot food bar with both meat and vegetarian/vegan options, a big salad bar full of fresh produce, different juices and sodas, all kinds of bread and jam/PB, and a daily dessert that was always delicious. I liked that there was different food available every day, and they were very conscious about food restrictions/allergies so everyone always had a balanced meal. The hours were long enough so that I always had time to eat, and my friends and I always arranged some tables together so we could all sit next to each other. There was also a small store that sold snacks, and the nearby town had a supermarket so we could always go and get any extra groceries we wanted. As a senior I was allowed a mini fridge in my dorm room, so I sometimes kept some things in my room for late night snacks.

There was a nearby beautiful town that we could go to in the weekends, or during the week if we found a ride. I loved the town because it was very small and had no chains or big businesses, so everything was local and benefited the town directly. There was a coffee shop that I especially liked because of the cookies and the chai tea they had, but I also loved going to the movie theater once in a while. The town was pretty small, but it was always nice to visit and get out of campus once in a while.

There were all sorts of people around and everyone was open and kind, so I felt like I could hang out with whoever I wanted. Some of my closest friends were definitely in my major because I spent the most time with them, but I made a lot of really good friends through classes, through orientation, through the dorm and just because I spoke to them in the cafeteria. My favorite thing in Idyllwild was that everyone had a special interest, everyone had a "thing" so if I ever wanted to learn more about it I could always go to them and get to know them better while learning something new in the process.