When I was in high school I struggled to feel like I had a community that would support me as an artist and self-celebrated weirdo. In my small town, being one of the "art kids" was at best met with disinterest and at worst attracted open bullying. I had a few close friends and we helped each other survive our teenage years, but none of them were artists and I had not yet learned how to invite them into my art making.
The fall of my senior year, I attended a portfolio day that was transformational and directly influenced the rest of my life. The MCAD rep was so different, in the best way, from nearly everyone I had shared my artwork with, with the exception of my high school art teacher. The MCAD rep shared with me a warmth and kindness and genuine interest in what I was making and the ideas I was pursuing. They took their time with my work and seemed interested in getting to know who I was. To them I felt like I mattered, what I was making mattered and that at MCAD I would be seen and welcomed. I enrolled at MCAD the following Fall - and (TLDR) through that decision I found my people here, my ride or die friends, and quite literally my family.
Being a part of the MCAD community has not always been easy. There have been many decisions I have not agreed with, I have seen and been embarrassed by the ways we should and could do better and are not, and sometimes I have felt unheard. But more often I have seen a vital and important community come together time and time again to support each other and broader communities, had the privilege of knowing exceptional people at every level of the college, witness the community learn from its weaknesses and grow stronger together, and continue to foster life enriching relationships. MCAD is a part of my family - family that I chose and continue to choose to be a part of.