Back in my middle and high school days, I was lucky enough to live in one of the most vibrant parts of New York City near the East Village. Various street cultures, both accepted and illegitimate, were on full display and in close proximity. The arts environment was particularly stimulating. In my junior year, I was able to attend free art classes at the Cooper Union where both still life and figure drawings were being taught by senior students. It was one of the most memorable experiences for me as a young adult. Peter Cooper the industrialist, and philanthropist as we know, believed in offering practical free education to all.
Ever since then, the idea of "free school" was on my mind.
Today the AEP was able to interview two students as recipients of the Sebastian Law scholarship program where the tuition for the two weeks program could be waived. Both students came from underprivileged families, both were children of divorced parents. One student is supported by his sister as the mom can’t work and the dad is not around. Another student lives in outlying islands and gets up every morning at 5 am to go to school in the city with 2 hours of commute time. Even with that challenging routine, she was motivated enough to put together a portfolio that includes a study of Greek architecture with careful drawings of the columns. There is also a self-initiated design of a chair as a reaction to the lack of a ‘real’ task chair in her 350 square foot home.
After hearing their heartwarming stories Sebastian decided to generously sponsor both students as opposed to the one originally agreed.
Hopefully, this little exposure will help to stimulate them like how I was back in the day.