Miriam Spalińska

Illustration, Parsons School of Design, New York

What have you been up to since you left Akademeia?

Since graduating from Akademeia I’ve been studying Illustration at the Parsons School of Design in New York. I’ve been also working hard on developing projects independently and with others, I’m always on the lookout for new experiences and possibilities to develop myself as an artist and a person.

How studying at Akademeia helped you prepare for university?

Akademeia taught me the importance of consistently working on myself. This prepared me for not only keeping up with the workload at university but also made me much more aware of the time and opportunities I’ve worked for.

What are your three favourite things about Akademeia?

My favorite things about Akademeia are definitely the community that it created as well as the amazing teachers and faculty. I have gained extremely close and deep friendships with people in Akademeia that are stronger than ever today, I know that my life would not be anything like it is now if I hadn’t met my amazing friends there. The ambition and genuine need for bettering ourselves in our interests, no matter how different they may be, is what fuels me, and I am forever grateful for that strong sense of community we have. Aside from the students, the teachers I had are also amazing people who changed my life for the better, and taught me not only in their subjects but also taught me important life lessons and really made me feel cared for and heard.

Looking back at your own school time, what advice do you have for current Akademeia students?

More often than not, the school can get extremely hard to get past at certain points. The amount of work can cause a lot of stress and hardship, but the best advice I can give is to know who your friends are and stick together and take care of each other, and communicate with your teachers. Akademeia certainly gave me a good dose of what the ‘real world’ can sometimes be like, and even though in the long run it made me more prepared for later, it is by no means easy, but being there for each other is the best advice I can think of.

What are your projects for the future?

I’m currently juggling personal and collaborative projects, ranging from designing websites to taking part in an exhibition that was organized by another Akademeia Alumna. I plan to continue working hard on gaining experience in the field of visual storytelling and I’m hoping to look into more internships and opportunities to develop myself further.