Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an OCSA student? Have you ever been curious about what the day of an OCSA Production & Design stage manager looks like, compared to a dancer or visual artist? This year, we wanted to get an inside look at the daily lives of some of our incredible artist scholars.
Aiden Chung, a freshman in the Arts & Enterprise Conservatory (AE), has helped kick off his conservatory’s inaugural year. Check out what his experience as a first-year OCSA student has been like so far!
What does your average day look like?
“Usually I wake up around 7 a.m. to get ready for school. Once I get to school, I talk to my friends for a few minutes before class starts and the rest is just the regular day, classes, lunch, and conservatory.”
What’s your favorite part of the day?
“My favorite part of the day is when I can walk around and talk to all my friends. There's something about just taking time in my day to slow down and catch up.”
What is the most rewarding part of your week?
“The most rewarding part is finally getting to relax after getting through the week.”
How would you describe your conservatory experience?
“I actually applied for another conservatory before I came to OCSA, but when I heard about AE I felt like it connected with me more. I think I made a good choice in choosing AE. The conservatory uses a lot of different skill sets from different teachers to teach a little bit of everything.”
What do you think makes your experience unique from a typical high school student experience?
“Unlike a regular high school, OCSA is more oriented to hone specific artistic skills. It focuses more on elevating the student in their specialty, and I think that's what truly makes OCSA special.”
What do you think is unique about your experience in AE?
“As everyone knows, AE is a very new conservatory. There are no seniors or older students to guide us in our conservatory, which is very exciting. Our ninth-grade class is going to set the road for younger, new students who are interested in joining the conservatory.”
Do you have a favorite conservatory class?
“I wouldn't say I have a favorite conservatory class. Not because I can't choose, but because all of them are unique in their own way. Each class works to hone or sharpen a specific skill, and the teachers in each class try their very best to make our experience as worthwhile as possible.”
What sort of things pop up throughout the year that make your schedule different?
“I like that there are more events during the school year than in middle school. It gives me a chance to spend more time with school friends and meet new ones.”
What advice would you give an incoming student in your conservatory?
“Don't let joining a new conservatory scare you. looks can be deceiving. Once you get into the flow in the conservatory, everything becomes a lot more fun.”
How do you balance your time?
“I try to finish all my homework that I can in school, so that when I get home I don't have to stay up late finishing it up. This also helps because during the weekend I don't have to worry about late work.”
Stay tuned to learn more about OCSA’s amazing students and their unique experiences as we continue this series, “A Day in the Life.”