Jane Islas-Escamilla
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How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before?
Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Camp is a prestigious experiential program located in Michigan where creative individuals go for 3-6 weeks to major in any artistic ability of their choice: Dance, Music, Music Production, Opera, Film and Media, Animation, Drawing, Theatre, Acting, etc. Artists will live on campus in a cabin with 12 other students and a counselor. There are several opportunities, concerts, and events scheduled for students to interact and collaborate with other students in the program.
What is a typical day like during your EP?
Every day, I woke up to the sound of the trumpet outside playing at 6:30 in the morning. My cabinmates and I had to get out of the cabin at that time wearing our lanyards and walk to the basketball court of our division where we received morning announcements. Then we returned back to the cabin 5-7 minutes later to get ready for the day; this consisted of taking care of our hygiene, doing our hair/makeup if used, getting our uniform on, and doing our daily chores. Interlochen likes to call the chores “capers” and we use a wheel in our cabin to determine each camper’s “caper” for the day. We must be out of the cabin by 8:15 because that is when the other counselor comes in to grade our capers. If we fail capers, we are locked out of our cabin until 9:00 pm (curfew). After we finish getting ready, we go to the Stone Cafeteria to have breakfast. Breakfast is the best meal of the day because they have a bunch of options – cereal, bagels, waffles, eggs, and sometimes bacon or potatoes or hashbrowns, yogurts, granola, cinnamon rolls on a good day, applesauce, fruit, and blueberry muffins. Afterward, everyone was off to their distinct classes. Once classes were done, the majority went to dinner which began at 5pm. After that, every person was doing their own thing whether it was completing projects, hanging out with friends, attending recitals, musicals, choirs, shows, film screenings, etc. There was always something to do. If not, there was always going back to the cabin to shower or relax, read a book, call your family in a space that has good wifi, or take a nap. Once the curfew hit, everyone was to return to their cabin to get ready for bed. We had to be back in our division at 9pm and 9:30 at the latest in our cabin. During this time our counselor would take our phones and place them in a bin which would stay near her bed or the phones could be put to charge around the front of the cabin (away from our beds). Lights were out at 10pm when everyone should already be in bed and ready for “bunk-talk” where the cabin mates will have a conversation together with the counselor and answer any “icebreaker” questions. During this time, the director of the division or a higher power counselor would come in for announcements. Then it's sleep time!
What was the biggest challenge of your EP?
The biggest challenge was adapting to this new environment which is very different from my home town. Also having to wake up early abruptly and having to rush outside was a struggle. Adapting was the biggest challenge because of the people, the food, the environment, the schedules.
What was the biggest reward of your EP?
The biggest reward was being around people that share the same interest as me. I learned so much from everyone, their talent, passion, and background. I was able to solidify my interest and expand my knowledge of film.
What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?
I wish I knew about the schedule and that there would be about 11 other girls in my cabin. It wasn’t a bad thing, I had just wished to know more about the lifestyle as a camper and in the cabin. I did not know that we would have to wake up so early and that the only day we’d sleep in was on Sunday. The camp is really good and super prestigious, I would highly recommend going, just that with the scheduling, if someone were to “sleep-in” on Sunday, that’d mean risking breakfast because it closes at 9, then waiting until lunch which starts at 11. One of the biggest things I wish I knew was that the service would be really bad. There was wifi but it only worked in the spaces where we would have classes, in the library, health center, or in the cafeteria.
What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?
One piece of advice I’d give would be to be open-minded in the sense that you will be stepping into a new environment with people from different parts of the world. There will be a lot of adjusting going on but after the first couple of days, new habits will be picked up and all that’s left is for you to show up and show out in this program. You will meet a lot of new people with which you can network and can eventually become very good friends. I made a bunch of friends at camp, many of whom I see being close friends. If you are the type to get homesick, bring something from home – a picture, stuffed animal, or journal. Also bring some money because they have a “Scholarshop” and a store they like to call “Melody Freeze” where you can buy all sorts of treats, food, and merch in case you do not enjoy the food they provide!
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