Michael Hirsch

I can't imagine having gone anywhere else. Vassar has been the perfect environment for me both academically and socially, and has given me so many opportunities to be engaged in things both inside and outside the classroom. I have had countless experiences that I owe to Vassar, including the chance to direct three plays and serve as the facilitator for Unbound. Prior to coming here I had an interest in theater, but never envisioned myself being so involved. Once I discovered the resources available to me, I was able to not only make theater, but actually grow as a director throughout the years. With each play I directed I challenged myself in new ways, which allowed me to learn more and more about the theater making process. It was often uncomfortable for me, and I think that being able to conquer that discomfort was an invaluable lesson that Vassar taught me. I am very thankful that I have had the opportunity to contribute to the dynamic theater community here, which was an experience that showed me just how much I could learn from my peers.

Vassar's emphasis on executing creative endeavors is something that I have come to strongly value. In addition to extra-curricular possibilities, I think that one of my favorite aspects of Vassar was having the opportunity to pursue my own academic interests, while at the same time being challenged to explore territories that were out of my comfort zone. For my Political Science seminar I was able to combine my interest in political theory (something I felt was accessible to me) with my desire for art (something that I've felt has always been inaccessible). Since I am the worst artist I know, it was a sincerely meaningful experience for me to put my heart into something artistic for a final project. Creating a work of art that I actually liked was something I never could have seen myself doing, and having the support of my professors and peers is the only way that I was able to achieve that.

During the creation of my collaborative sculpture/performance art piece about the meaning of signs, we found that our project exposed a controversy between provocative art and public space. We were forced to meet with several administrators about it. While the project ended up being slightly censored, the administration gave us the opportunity to talk with them in order to understand our project. Rather than shutting down the piece, we had several discussions with different people, which forced us to think about the significance that it could have for the community. Although I was angry at the time that we couldn't utilize the public space at Vassar the way we wanted to, I now have a great deal of respect for how the situation was treated. Vassar wants us to explore our creative motivations, and even though it caused somewhat of a stir at the time, I think that even the administration appreciated the discussions we had, the challenges that we brought to their policies, and the project itself.

While the opportunities here are unbelievable, nothing will compare to the friends I have made. Each semester was a new exploration into the vastly unique student body that we have. My peers have provided an atmosphere in which I could be completely comfortable with my own self, which has further allowed me to grow and mature in unexpected ways. I even think that those people who I did not get along with have taught or showed me something in their own way. The professors I've had have also made a profound impact on my life, and many of them are responsible for many of my current academic interests and motivations. I am also grateful for getting to know many of my professors outside of the classroom, and I consider them my friends. I will greatly miss all of my friends, students, faculty, and administrators alike, that I have met and had the opportunity to interact with throughout the course of my four years at Vassar.

—Michael Hirsch is the outgoing president of the student-theatre group Unbound.