You may remember from a previous blog post that Saint Louis Sudbury School student, Veda, was accepted into a summer art program at The Putney School and attended this past summer! We sat down with Veda recently and asked her some questions about the summer experience.
How did you feel at the beginning of your stay and how did you feel at the end? How did you grow?
I felt uneasy and skeptical at the beginning. My lack of phone was less upsetting and more thrilling and humbling. I think during the entire time of Putney I became less reliant on my phone (as expected). I would be in a moment where I’d want to take a picture but only have my poor-quality camera or I’d get mildly bored and want to doom scroll. It was good for me. I think the biggest thing is that I became so much less addicted to social media and don’t catch myself on it nearly as often anymore (from 5+ hours a day to under an hour consistently). The lack of screens and lack of access to the outside world was probably the best part of this art camp. I was ignorant to the world outside of Putney and it did wonders for my mental health. I enjoy staying up to date on what’s happening in the world but having the freedom and not knowing for a month was truly amazing for me.
What was the tech use policy there and how was that for you?
There was a ‘no internet-ready devices allowed policy.’ No device that could be connected to Wi-Fi was allowed. MP3 players with predownloaded music were allowed. The lack of devices wasn’t an issue for me. A bit uncomfortable in the beginning but I adapted quickly.
What was it like being away from friends and family?
It was both scary and freeing. I felt like I could be myself completely without directly influencing my younger siblings. Having no friends in the beginning wasn’t intimidating because NO ONE had friends yet. Just 100 teenage campers who didn’t know each other or anyone at camp.
Did anything surprise you about the experience at Putney?
I was surprised about how amazing the food was. The kitchen staff did an amazing job and I was so grateful every time I grabbed a plate to eat.
How did being a Sudbury student help prepare you for your summer art program at Putney?
I was already used to self-directed education so it was easier for me to teach myself techniques and allow myself to branch out and try new stuff without being my own worst critic and internally worrying about what others may think of my work.
Did you find anything in particular at Putney challenging?
The consistent schedule of waking up at 7:30 am and going to sleep after 10:30 pm was probably the worst thing. The only time we actually got to sleep in was on ‘lazy Sundays’ (every Sunday) but one day of sleeping in each week doesn’t make up for the restlessness from the other 6 days.
Are you thinking about doing another summer program away from home again?
It’s possible. If I did go to another summer camp, I may try Putney again. But it’s not a priority to go to a summer program away from home again.
What was your favorite food to eat at Putney?
Okay, honestly? Rice crispy treats. The kitchen made amazing food 4 times a day and I ate amazing. But the rice crispy treats kept my blood sugar up between meals when I was insanely sweaty and exhausted because of all the walking and lack of AC.
Thanks Veda and congrats on the summer adventure!
Sudbury Student Attends Summer Art Program
