Most students at Interlochen have made substantial efforts to convince their parents and community the worth of leaving to invest in their artistic futures. Because it's the students who have displayed this level of dedication and commitment to their chosen field, we live in a truly unique atmosphere in which the entire campus is in tune with personal goals, and inspiration and support are everywhere. Even the faculty was fully aware of concert schedules and artistic deadlines, and would model the courseload around this. My instructors were world class and every opportunity was given to me to expand my academic understanding of the world as well. My typical week included performing in concerts, attending poetry readings, art gallery openings, plays, dance recitals and many nature walks around the 1200 acres of state parks. If you feel that your career lies in the arts, there is no better choice than Interlochen!

Going to Interlochen continues to be the highlight of my academic career, and one of the happiest times of my life. I realized in my first few days that it was an investment that was absolutely worth the sacrifice of leaving my home city and family. There, I discovered how to be a part of a community with a common purpose and goal, and how pivotal a role that each person's support and involvement brings to a community. Within a few weeks I really felt at home, and there I grew and matured as an artist.

In reflection, I would have liked to have spent more time visiting before I went to Interlochen. There is nothing like being afraid to leave home but upon arriving realizing you are at home, just a different one, and that every dream you have can become reality through work and support. I would certainly advise one to keep some sort of written journal of your experiences, and to begin prior to leaving for your first day. It is through this record that you can see just how much you grow and how much more of life and yourself you become aware of.

I never felt isolated or alone at Interlochen. The support there is exceptional because people with the same dreams and goals as you choose to make the sacrifice to go there. I think people at high school age have a unique and irreplaceable enthusiasm and dedication that is lost in the university environment.

Take full advantage of the campus - attend every performance that you can, explore every trail, speak with the artists that come from all over the world to perform, make friends with dancers and poets, sculptors and actors, because you will learn something invaluable from each. Bring a heavy coat for the winter also! Get ready to see the most beautiful sunsets every evening.

Interlochen offered classes that had no more than a dozen students and professors that went an extra mile in education. My history professor, for example, brought in an array of weapons from the nineteenth century and shot off a cannon the day that we began studying the civil war. The Russian literature professor would not begin our rigorous book requirements until she had first given a month-long overview of 2,000 years of Russian history. The poetry professor brought in distinguished poets to give readings and lectures, or would take us out to a lakeshore to reflect and study during classtime. There was always a considerable emphasis on academics, but never too much of a workload to detract from the overall goals and focus of the students. The facilities were exceptional; The music library is one of the largest in the nation, and the academic library was perfect for study.

Because Interlochen is an Arts Academy, very little of the focus was on athletics. Besides the physical academic offering, I was aware of no formal athletic teams. However, with 1200 acres of forest and lakes, there was ample opportunity for physical activity, including rowing, cross-country skiing, swimming, running, and nature walks.

Each area of the Arts was first class. The music department offered weekly concerts, a challenging repertoire, in-depth instruction and a flood of Musical performances coming in from all over the world. The facilities were outstanding, with an outside auditorium overlooking a lake, an indoor auditorium with ~2,000 seats, and numerous smaller venues. In addition to musical opportunities, there were non-stop theater performances, ballet, readings, art exhibits, even sculpture created around the campus by students. The level of support and encouragement by fellow students really brought the entire campus together. It was nearly impossible to become discouraged no matter what level you were at.

Each student has a community service requirement. They must choose from options such as working in the library to food service. The highlight of my volunteer opportunities was when I was asked to do an outreach to elementary and middle schools across Michigan. There are various ecological and cultural excursions available as well.

The dorms consist of two beds that the roommates share. Our dorm had a computer lab and a rec room. One suprising feature of the dorms were the basements. Each basement had dozens of practice rooms that contained baby grand pianos, music stands, and soundproofed walls. The roommate selection process that they used worked very well to match you with a compatible roomate. The staff that lived in the dorm were helpful, kind and approachable, and supportive.

The cafeteria overlooks a lake and offers three meals a day. The food offered was quite diverse and of good quality. It opened every morning before class and was large enough to never seem quite full. It was nice to be able to see such a beautiful view while eating, and it was comfortable enough to read or study afterwards during the winter months.

The nearest town to the campus is Traverse City, Michigan. It is a quaint and scenic town along a lake. There was a bus that went once a week where you could do any necessary shopping or business. Immediately surrounding the 1200 acre campus is a beautiful state park. During the summer it's a popular camping destination, so all the recreation that you'd find camping is available on a daily basis.

Most of us lived on campus and became very close. People were from nearly every state, and there were a large number of international students. The degree of maturity was high in regard to the common artistic goals we were all working towards. It's a small student body (totalling less than 450) so there is an opportunity to get to know everybody. I distinctly remember nearly everyone smiling or kindly greeting one another in hallways and on paths to class buildings. There was a true sense of unity on the campus.