At its core, Governors School for the Arts is a three-week program for young artists to practice their craft in a residential, conservatory style. However, for a few students (and even a staff member here at WCHS) GSA is a life-changing experience for people who are passionate about their art.
Take Karlee Blanton for example. This current senior attended the 2024 second session of GSA for Film+Photography. Here’s what she had to say about the program. “The GSA experience I could define in so many words but the best I can use is life-changing! Through going to GSA I now know more about my art form and my passion for film/photography. It brought me more valuable friendships that I can always hold onto. And showed me that I truly am an artist.” Another student, junior Gabe Resinger, attended the first session of GSA for creative writing, and here’s his glowing review of the program, “GSA showed me that I can find art and home anywhere that I could possibly think to look.” Although these two alumni are part of the WCHS Chorale, they attended GSA for two non-performance programs. GSA promotes the idea that you don’t have to perform to be an artist. Artistry is unconventional, it is meant to defy all the standards.
With hard work comes hard play. The latter was provided by the GSA Residential assistants, or RA’s. Discipline and Residential assistants work very hard to make sure that each and every student is accommodated and feels comfortable at the camp. A main part of accomplishing these goals includes
fun activities to mix up daily routines. RA’s try their hardest to make all of our downtime fun and entertaining, which is hard to do when you have over 200 sleep-deprived and cranky teenagers to look after. One stand-out RA was Tommy Flanigan, a camp favorite. I had the pleasure of interviewing him and here is what he had to say about his experience, “I would be ignorant to say that being employed at GSA hasn’t changed me as a person, and for the better might I add. Being employed at GSA has given me a newfound confidence and work ethic that I try to bring back to my community and spread throughout the year. Sometimes we get lost in the sauce called life and I believe GSA is a great place to reignite passion into not only your art form but work ethic as well!”
Another stand-out RA is Katelyn Rose. If you take any WCHS choir classes, you probably know her as Miss. Rose, Mr Strickland’s phenomenal student teacher. Hers what she had to say about her decision to pursue education after attending GSA, “I think that being on the RA side of things it really was just able to show me and confirm that even though I get a lot of pleasure from performing, I draw so much more from watching other people and helping other people. And this experience just really validated that in me.” Katelyn also made the statement that she would be happy to help anyone interested in applying with their application. If anyone reading this article finds themself in need of a mentor to guide them through the process, any of the students mentioned in the article would be happy to help!
As for me, I attended the program this past summer in the drama art form. I would not change anything about my experience. The long hours excited me and I felt my craft was nurtured with delicate care from the staff. I made lifelong connections with people who have the same interests as me.
For anyone interested in applying for this sensational opportunity, contact me at my school email: [email protected]. No art form is too obscure, no talent should be overlooked.
