Student Spotlight

Michelle Angelosanto, Graphic Design ’12

 

Where are you from and where did you attend high school?

I’m from Andover, Massachusetts, and attended Andover High School.

 

What determined your choice of Pratt for higher education?

When I first applied to Pratt, I didn’t know too much about it. Once I learned more about Pratt's great reputation and its design program, the school became much more appealing to me. Finally, I got a chance to visit the campus and immediately knew this was the school I had to go to. The campus was beautiful, and the people I met were great, and the artistic atmosphere was great. 

What extra-curriculuar activities do you pursue at Pratt?

I have been a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority since my freshman year. This past year, I was vice president and I’ve also held various chairmanship positions. Joining Tri-Sigma introduced me to the Inter-Greek Council, which I’ve also been a part of since my freshman year. Currently, I’m serving as the president of the organization, which is the sole governing body of all fraternities and sororities on campus.

 

Tri-Sigma and the Inter-Greek Council jump-started my involvement in school activities freshman year, and has given me so much more than I ever expected since then. Being involved makes me feel like I am really a part of the school. I feel connected to so many more people, and get to participate in a lot of great programs that would not be available to me otherwise.

 

What other activities do you pursue at Pratt?

Because of my positive Orientation experience as a freshman, I decided to join Pratt’s Orientation staff. I have been a staff member for the past two years, and am lucky enough to be a coordinator, along with two other students, this coming summer. This year I started working in the Art and Design Education department office, which I enjoy because everyone is so friendly, and it’s nice to interact with people from another department besides my own. 

When did you discover you had artistic talent? 

It’s not that I discovered my artistic talent, but more that I have loved art since I was little. I have family members who work in the art field, so they, as well as my parents, have fostered my creativity since I was young. Since art was such a passion for me growing up, it only made sense for me to attend an art school.

 

What decided you on graphic design as a major? 

I ultimately decided upon graphic design because I love the creative arts, and I love solving problems. The idea of being presented with a problem, and using my artistic talents to solve said problem is really exciting to me.

Do you have any specific career plans yet?

Being in my junior year, I can’t say that I have, but I’m taking as many different types of classes as I can while in school, so I’m not limited in job choices when I graduate. It will be exciting to see where my education will take me in the coming years.

 

What’s your favorite off-campus activity?

I have always loved to dance, and taken classes since I was little. Anything that involves dancing and the performing arts interests me, whether it’s going to a ballet performance or just dancing with friends in their living room.

 

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from the faculty and student body so far? 

From the faculty I’ve learned there has to be a reason for everything you do. Without reason, why do it? From the student body I’ve learned that there are many ways to view the same situation, and every person will not always think the same way I do.

 

What do you find the most challenging about being a student at Pratt? The most enjoyable?

Pratt is definitely demanding (for good reason), and no one will deny that.  For me, the most challenging thing is making the effort to take time to experience New York City. Life is built upon experience, just as I believe design is built upon experience. It’s hard to be a truly talented designer without connecting to the world around you. That also relates to what I find most enjoyable. I love how Pratt can expose you to so many different people, who have different ways of thinking. College really is the time to experience new things, and see things from a new perspective, or find a new passion. I think Pratt gives us that opportunity.

 

If you could meet any artist, living or deceased, who would it be?

I would want to meet Degas, because I love his dancers and the way that he painted them.

 

Photo: Raine Manley Robertson