[quicktime]http://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/ugoretz14/files/2014/09/rs.mov[/quicktime]

My snapchat story during the Night at the Museum was “Who knew art was fun?” with a picture of a painting. (I’m not sure if you know what a “snapchat story” is so I’ll explain it to you: A snapchat story is when you post a picture on snapchat between 0-10 seconds that all of your buddies on snapchat are able to keep replaying for 24 hours.) Anyways, I’ve never been a huge fan of visual art. Paintings have always seemed dull to me and, throughout my childhood, I’ve always found school trips to museums rather boring. I kept getting e-mail after e-mail reminding us about this “exciting” first trip that all the Macaulay students would have together, but all I could think was about how I wished it was anything but a museum.

Then, I arrived at the museum. My whole outlook instantly changed. I noticed how many Macaulay students there were that I’ve never seen  before and it seemed like a great opportunity. Sitting there in the last row of the auditorium (or whatever room we were all gathered in), I felt like I was part of something truly big and important. That’s when I decided to give this night a chance. The funny comments that were being posted on the board also helped me get more excited, because it lightened up the mood a bit.

Then came the recorders. Oh, no. I hate my voice. This can’t be happening. I’ll just be quiet the whole time. OMG I have to find a group of six people?! Do I even know six people in Macaulay?! Whatever, I’ll just be the loser that has to be placed in a group because I didn’t know enough people. >>>These were the thoughts that were infiltrating into my head. If you didn’t notice, I was becoming a nervous wreck. Now that I look back it, I really can’t understand why. I’m embarrassed about how anxious I got, because it was actually an incredibly fun night!

I ended up knowing six people from Macaulay! (Yay me!) I also ended up actually speaking up into the recorder (Yay me again!). I didn’t want to let such an experience float away because I didn’t appreciate it in that moment of time.

Discussing the art was actually really fun. It stopped looking like kindergarteners just sat there and made a rainbow. It started having meaning to me. I stopped questioning why the art pieces were in a museum and started questioning what they meant and what the artist could’ve been thinking. It just felt like creative fun. A game, perhaps. You’re making up a story that could be so far from the truth, yet it could also be exactly what the artist was going for. I was in a group with people that I had previously met, but I’m glad to admit that I feel like I truly got to know them better and made new friends. My first experience making new Macaulay friends! How exciting!! It truly was. It also really encouraged me and led me to believe that every Macaulay event would be great because if I enjoyed a museum with my peers, I know I could enjoy anything.

Discussing the art was kind of like storytelling. It brought out a lot of interesting factors to the art that I never would’ve noticed without my peers. This event made me look into art in a deeper fashion. Then, there I was throughout the night noticing interesting aspects, too. It was a great feeling and the time really flew by that night. My group had finished our assignment so early but we stayed in the museum anyways because we were just enjoying it so much, and enjoying each other’s presence too. My group was really special because we took advantage of both aspects of the night: a) looking at art and having a great time doing it b) getting to know your peers and really connecting with them. My fellow Macaulay members found out so many things we had in common that night, while each one was a shock.

Another very awesome factor of the night was that we were able to have the museum all to ourselves. It made me feel like we were the ones running the place. We could’ve been the curators after hours discuss the art chosen in the museum. Or we could’ve been like VIP guests, because who else gets to be in a museum after hours?

It made me feel special. It made me realize how worth it my struggles throughout high school have been. I was part of something elite. At least, that’s how I look at it!

I’d like to thank Professor Ugoretz for setting up the perfect evening for an intro of school year. He did a really great job. I also think the other professors that participated did as well.

I definitely consider that night a success. If there was a category for successful night, I definitely would’ve selected it!