HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT RENAISSANCE?
This is my 8th year serving as the Secretary at Renaissance. I was a Renaissance student myself from 2002-2004!
HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE ART IN YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE OF RENAISSANCE?
I sing as much as I can! I've been singing with the NEWVoices Choir in Appleton since 2014. When time allows, I also love to do community musical theatre. You might have seen me in Godspell at Riverside the summer of 2021, Shrek the Musical at UW Fox Theatre in February of 2020, or in Mamma Mia! with Calumet County Community Theatre in the summer of 2019.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF ART?
I love to spend time with my two daughters, my boyfriend, and his son. We love to travel, try out new restaurants, and watch live theatre. This year I went back to school for Graphic Design at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and I'm absolutely loving it!
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE RENAISSANCE MEMORY?
My first year at Renaissance was also my first year of motherhood. Violet was born in July of 2015 and I started that August - it was a whirlwind for sure! That year, Ms. Peter's Photography on Location class invited me to bring Violet in once a month for a photoshoot. I will cherish the experience and the photos forever!
IF YOU WERE A RENAISSANCE STUDENT TODAY, WHICH CLASS WOULD YOU BE MOST EXCITED TO TAKE AND WHY?
If I could be a Renaissance student again, I would definitely take Triple Threat with Ron Parker, Kat Abderholden, and Keira Jett. When I went to Renaissance, when it was still a fledgling Charter School, there weren't very many performance art classes offered yet. It's so exciting to see the variety of classes offered now, twenty years later. To tell you the truth, every time a new grid comes out, I make myself a class schedule for fun! I know, I know... nerd alert!
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR CURRENT RENAISSANCE STUDENTS?
Take advantage of the safe space you have here to be vulnerable and creative. Don't give up when things feel too hard - that's when real growth is starting to happen. Don't just think outside the box - throw that box right into the recycling bin!