Class of 2009 Alumni Reflect on Time at Spoleto Study Abroad

Marks: For me, Ravenscroft and fine arts are synonymous. Much of my experience at Ravenscroft was spent exploring creative outlets through art, music and writing. It was through all of the different opportunities that Ravenscroft offered to its students to try new skills that led me to discover my own passion for storytelling through writing and photography. I will always appreciate how much students were celebrated for their creativity in the Ravenscroft Fine Arts Department and I love how collaborative the entire department was between students and faculty.

Stevenson: The investment the teachers make in the students. It is a place where shared passion, or discovery of a new passion, in my case, really shines through. After my first play at Ravenscroft in the 5th grade, I went on to study Musical Theater at Elon University.

Wood: I didn’t take many fine art classes while I was in high school but the few that I took introduced me to basic techniques and principles of design.

Marks: My older sister, Dee Condrey Pinto ’06, participated in the Spoleto program for violin a few years before I did, and my family took a trip to Italy that summer to visit her there. I immediately fell in love with the town and the community of Spoleto and could see the impact that the friendships and education had on my sister. Photography and art had long been an interest of mine, and when I saw that photography was a course offered in the Spoleto program I knew that it would be the perfect place for me to dive deeper through this immersive learning experience.

Stevenson: My brother Casey ’08 participated the summer before I did and he encouraged me to do it. Andrea Mutti was at Ravenscroft for much of my time there, and she had told me all about it in middle school. I couldn’t resist the opportunity based on what she described.

Wood: I heard about Spoleto Study Abroad from students in older grades and was intrigued. Having the opportunity to enhance my creative skills while being immersed in another country sounded like a unique and memorable experience that I wanted to participate in.

Marks: It’s difficult to pinpoint one specific part because I genuinely reflect upon this entire experience as a whole so often, still to this day. I think the program does a fantastic job of allowing high school students to feel both independent and safe while abroad, and the program was structured in a way that allowed us to build long-lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. I am grateful that I was able to take courses outside of just photography, like Italian and art. I made relationships with friends that I still keep in touch with, and I am still proud of the photography work that I did there. It’s hard to believe that this program was only a few weeks but still has such an impact on my life.

Stevenson: The friendships/cohort I completed the program with — it brings a special connection. Also, learning in a relatively unfamiliar environment allowed us as students to have some breakthroughs that left a mark.

Wood: I have such special memories from my time in Spoleto, it’s hard to pick one thing. My focus was in photography so I loved being able to explore the beautiful town, the local people and the Italian culture while capturing it through my camera lens.

Overall, the program was really well done. There was a great mix of Italian, fine arts and photography intensive classes as well as day trips and family style meals. Another unique part of the program was living in a 15th-century convent — how many people can say they’ve done that!

Marks: Photography is still a passion and hobby of mine and I use both digital and film cameras regularly. I will always lean on the photography skills that I learned in Spoleto when capturing life’s moments. I also love to draw, both in doodle form and more in-depth charcoal pieces. I will never forget the method that was taught to us when drawing from real life and use it every time I pick up my pencil!

Stevenson: Yes, collaboration and creative exploration with artists I work with and a general sense of curiosity to never stop learning or taking feedback.

Wood: There are several things I learned there that are relevant to my job today. The one that stands out the most would be creating a final portfolio and presenting my work. This was one of my first times (or maybe the first time) presenting my work. I took hundreds of photos during my time in Spoleto but needed to curate a handful to present. This required selecting photos, editing, choosing an arrangement and considering how they all come together to tell a story. I still practice this process today. I am constantly narrowing down design and layout options, curating the story and presenting to various audiences on a regular basis.