Major Conflicts: Students Switch Art Areas

Uma Raja and Lexi Marcellino

September 22, 2015

Graphic by communications junior Peter Rawlik

Many Dreyfoos students often find that their passion may lie outside of their major. “People [in my new major] tend to be more like minded and it’s fun to work with people who share similar academic and artistic goals,” former theatre major and now communications junior Lucie “Rhodes” Evans said.

Hopeful eighth graders fill the cafeteria as parents attempt to console their children. Students auditioning for Dreyfoos as strings majors tune their violins. Meanwhile, future communications majors recite their speeches in front of a mirror in the bathroom. This seems like any normal audition for incoming students; but a select few have other plans when auditioning.

“I was a communications major at Bak [Middle School of the Arts,]” digital media junior Mia Badone said. “I thought that I would have a better chance of getting into [Dreyfoos] for communications, because I did it for so long; but my plan was always to switch into digital media so I could pursue photography.”

Many students who attended Bak changed majors from when they first auditioned as 10 year olds fresh out of elementary school. Due to the years and dedication put into their middle school major, it is impractical in switching to one they have less-experience in now.

Current communications junior and former Bak vocal major Rebecca Bullock chose to forgo her vocal past and step into the less familiar world of communications.

“I switched majors because I’ve been writing since I was little,” Bullock said. “I liked singing more as a hobby and I got to switch into something I actually enjoyed doing, not something that seemed like a chore.”

Others, although they audition for Dreyfoos in the same art area as they were in at Bak, don’t always plan on pursuing that art throughout their high school careers. Some audition for the art areas they feel like they have a higher chance of getting into, then hope to switch majors once they’re in.

“[It] sounds cheesy, but really follow your gut,” former theatre and now communications junior Lucie “Rhodes” Evans said. “Don’t be afraid to take steps to a happier future even if the road is unmarked. Allowing yourself to grow is the most important thing and if you feel like you can do better somewhere else then go for it.”

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About the Contributors

Uma Raja, Assistant Managing Editor

Communications senior Uma Raja, Assistant Managing Editor and third-year staffer, was born in Manhattan, New York City. She loves animals and enjoys traveling the world to see different aspects of nature and various cultures. Raja's passion has been writing ever since kindergarten, and she has been published several times. She received an Excellent in review writing at the National High School Journalism Convention, third place for news writing in the Palm Beach Post Journalism Awards two years in a row, a Scholastic Silver Key for journalism, and three Editor’s Choice awards for journalism pieces in the literary magazine Teen Ink. She spent her summer at the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, where she participated in writing workshops and received instruction from seasoned journalists. She looks forward to creating intriguing articles and putting in a full effort. Raja has worked with esteemed writers like James Patterson and National Geographic Editor-in-Chief Susan Goldberg, and she hopes that her writing will one day inspire others.

Lexi Marcellino, Head Copy Editor

Communications senior Lexi Marcellino is a third-year staffer and the Head Copy Editor on The Muse. She has a passion for news writing and grammar, and has dedicated most of her free time and late nights to journalism. In addition to being involved in The Muse, Marcellino also has a passion for creative writing and working with Teens Against Domestic Abuse, a club she co-founded with other students. Outside of school, one can find her taking advantage of Panera’s free wifi and cradling a cup of coffee. Marcellino has spent the last two summers learning more about publishing and journalism. In 2015, she interned in the graphics department of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office, and the following year she became an alumna of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, where she worked with student journalists from around the world, as well as esteemed figures such as National Geographic Editor-In-Chief Susan Goldberg and Photojournalist Carol Guzy. She is also the recipient of a Scholastic Art and Writing award, as well as two Palm Beach Post awards. In the future, Marcellino hopes to pursue investigative and political journalism, and move to Washington D.C. to work on a large publication.