HELLO.

       My name is Michelle Manzino and I’m from a little town around Lake Wallenpaupack in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I’m a junior at Lycoming College, double majoring in Spanish and Art.

       I love being an art major. You meet some of the most interesting people on campus and you are given the freedom to express yourself. While art requires a lot of self-exploration and creativity, it also requires a lot of dedication: learning from mistakes and practicing to improve your skills, mastering different techniques and learning when to say that a piece is finished (that’s still a tough one for me). All of the professors in the Art department have encouraged me to develop my own personal style and embrace my inner passion. While I still haven’t decided whether to pursue Painting or Photography I know that Lycoming College will provide me with the skills I need to be successful in whichever path I choose.

       It was towards the end of high school when I realized that my life would never be completely fulfilled if I wasn’t involved in something artistic. I always knew that I enjoyed art but it wasn’t until I won recognition at the regional Scholastic Art Competition that I even considered that I might have talent enough to pursue it. To my great delight and astonishment, one of my drawings won the American Vision Nomination, a title bestowed on only four of the thousands of pieces entered in the contest. It was then that I found the confidence I lacked to pursue art professionally.

       I chose Lycoming because of its small size, friendly atmosphere, and supportive faculty. I can honestly say that I have benefited and learned a great deal from each and every art class I’ve taken at Lycoming College.