Orientation: Getting A New Crop of Students Ready for ArtCenter

Photos and interviews by Juan Posada.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Malcolm X

Orientation is a week defined by securing ID cards and parking passes, touring the campus, eating, listening, asking and observing. We spoke with some of the Fall 2019 entering class to find out what they are looking forward to now they have arrived. We also asked Orientation leaders for the best advice they have for the newbies. We’ve included six here—three incoming and three mentors. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram accounts for more images, impressions and advice, and contribute to the discussion with your own ArtCenter survival tips.

Clockwise, starting from the top left:

Orientation leader Jordan Miller, 7th term Illustration: “Be sure to make time for yourself.”
Incoming Film student RJ Deleon Vega: “Being able to learn from the best and having an outlet to express myself and be inspired by this great environment.”
Orientation leader Debby Kang, 5th term Entertainment Design: “Be yourself, don’t worry about others.”
Incoming Photography and Imaging student Alexis Pedroza: “Looking forward to becoming a photoshop wizard and learning to shoot street photography.”
Orientation leader Taytym Blake, 4th term Photography and Imaging: “Just make school your number one priority.”
Incoming Product Design student Rens Kierkels: “Looking forward to being with people from diverse countries who do things in different ways.”