"OSA is known for its many emphases, but what about people that weren’t too happy with their choice of emphasis, or even just wanted something new? Today I’ll be interviewing people that have switched emphases and their experience with the process."
-Milo Trejo
OSA is known for its many emphases, but what about people that weren’t too happy with their choice of emphasis or even just wanted something new? Today I’ll be interviewing people that have switched emphases and their experience with it.
My first interviewee Grace Triantafyllos is currently in 7th grade and switched from playing jazz drums in Instrumental to Literary Arts. Her cause for switching emphases has less to do with her experience playing drums and more to do with the fact that she played drums for six years and her passion for the instrument had just run dry. She does not regret her switching of emphasis either. Triantafyllos states “I do not regret switching my emphasis. I’m a lot happier where I am right now than in the emphasis I was in.”
Triantafyllos also gives well thought-out advice for anyone thinking about switching emphases; “If you’re thinking about switching but you’re nervous to audition for another emphasis I think you should just go for it ’cause it’s not going to hurt you if you don’t want to go in and if you don’t try you might just spend a lot of time wondering ‘what if’.” She explains that the process of the audition is most likely the hardest part. Furthermore describing it as “hectic” and “a daunting task.”
Another interviewee Abi Vieira who is also in 7th grade, switched from Dance to Theatre. Vieira has no regrets about switching emphases whatsoever and stated confidentially: No because Theatre’s much more fun than dance and I wouldn’t change out of Theatre for any other emphasis.” Vieiras reason for switching was almost solely on her experience with dance, an interesting contrast to Triantafyllos considering that her reason had very little to do with experience.
On the subject Vieira says: “I didn’t like dance mostly because my experience wasn’t that great and I was just too lazy to do it.” Vieira also gives a few words of wisdom to people too nervous to switch emphases: “I don’t know if you’re scared to ask your teacher to sign cause usually they want you to switch if you’re not happy in it, because their are other people that want to do it if you don’t want to.”
She reflects on her process of switching very easy and simple, which she appreciated. She said in the interview that “It was pretty easy you just had to sign the form and then audition and then they got back to us really quickly which is really nice.”
From aspiring artist to fashion designer Schemaria Johnson in 7th grade switched from Visual Arts to Fashion Design. Johnson recalls that one of her least favorite parts about Visual Arts and the main reason that made her change was the fact that there was “painting, so much painting.” The process of switching was short and simple she explains on the subject; “It was just really fun cause I was just kind of hanging around with my friends.” Johnson gives new advice, that hasn’t yet been heard: “Make sure you like it more than the thing you’re switching from.” She says she found it very hard to tell her friends that she was leaving but that that is a “common fear.”
While my last interviewee wishes to remain anonymous that doesn’t mean that what they have to say is any less important. They switched from Vocals to Production Design. Their main reason for switching (and remaining anonymous) is the fact that Vocals was just very underwhelming for them.
On the subject they said: “I was really excited about Vocal at first but after a year I decided it wasn’t for me and it wasn’t very organized. Our class wasn’t very organized and our teacher couldn’t keep control of anything.” They also appreciate the environment in Production Design and have no regrets.
Much like Vieira and Triantafyllos, what they have to say contrast what Johnson had to say: “Go to the emphasis you want and don’t stay because you have friends in an emphasis do what you want to do and don’t let other people control you.
All in all it doesn’t matter what emphasis it seems all interviewees came to the conclusion that they have no regrets about switching emphases whatsoever, and encourage most people thinking about it to just go for it.
My first interviewee Grace Triantafyllos is currently in 7th grade and switched from playing jazz drums in Instrumental to Literary Arts. Her cause for switching emphases has less to do with her experience playing drums and more to do with the fact that she played drums for six years and her passion for the instrument had just run dry. She does not regret her switching of emphasis either. Triantafyllos states “I do not regret switching my emphasis. I’m a lot happier where I am right now than in the emphasis I was in.”
Triantafyllos also gives well thought-out advice for anyone thinking about switching emphases; “If you’re thinking about switching but you’re nervous to audition for another emphasis I think you should just go for it ’cause it’s not going to hurt you if you don’t want to go in and if you don’t try you might just spend a lot of time wondering ‘what if’.” She explains that the process of the audition is most likely the hardest part. Furthermore describing it as “hectic” and “a daunting task.”
Another interviewee Abi Vieira who is also in 7th grade, switched from Dance to Theatre. Vieira has no regrets about switching emphases whatsoever and stated confidentially: No because Theatre’s much more fun than dance and I wouldn’t change out of Theatre for any other emphasis.” Vieiras reason for switching was almost solely on her experience with dance, an interesting contrast to Triantafyllos considering that her reason had very little to do with experience.
On the subject Vieira says: “I didn’t like dance mostly because my experience wasn’t that great and I was just too lazy to do it.” Vieira also gives a few words of wisdom to people too nervous to switch emphases: “I don’t know if you’re scared to ask your teacher to sign cause usually they want you to switch if you’re not happy in it, because their are other people that want to do it if you don’t want to.”
She reflects on her process of switching very easy and simple, which she appreciated. She said in the interview that “It was pretty easy you just had to sign the form and then audition and then they got back to us really quickly which is really nice.”
From aspiring artist to fashion designer Schemaria Johnson in 7th grade switched from Visual Arts to Fashion Design. Johnson recalls that one of her least favorite parts about Visual Arts and the main reason that made her change was the fact that there was “painting, so much painting.” The process of switching was short and simple she explains on the subject; “It was just really fun cause I was just kind of hanging around with my friends.” Johnson gives new advice, that hasn’t yet been heard: “Make sure you like it more than the thing you’re switching from.” She says she found it very hard to tell her friends that she was leaving but that that is a “common fear.”
While my last interviewee wishes to remain anonymous that doesn’t mean that what they have to say is any less important. They switched from Vocals to Production Design. Their main reason for switching (and remaining anonymous) is the fact that Vocals was just very underwhelming for them.
On the subject they said: “I was really excited about Vocal at first but after a year I decided it wasn’t for me and it wasn’t very organized. Our class wasn’t very organized and our teacher couldn’t keep control of anything.” They also appreciate the environment in Production Design and have no regrets.
Much like Vieira and Triantafyllos, what they have to say contrast what Johnson had to say: “Go to the emphasis you want and don’t stay because you have friends in an emphasis do what you want to do and don’t let other people control you.
All in all it doesn’t matter what emphasis it seems all interviewees came to the conclusion that they have no regrets about switching emphases whatsoever, and encourage most people thinking about it to just go for it.
