May 1, 2011

On her way...


Amanda modeling for the renowned hanbok designer, Heesuk Jung...Seoul, Korea.

Photos by Lyra Jakabhazy

The Story...
Well...pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. So, let me enter this post from a position of gratitude. ;-) As a parent, I would like to give thanks to all who have helped my daughter, Amanda, grow as an artist and a fine young woman. There have been several notable people (you know who you are!) who have helped Amanda and her siblings throughout the years. Suffice to say, it truly does take a village. I am humbly thankful to everyone who has touched our lives over the years.

Last spring, Amanda started stressing over her ACT and SAT scores. Maybe a little too much...because she clammed up on the tests and returned average scores. Kind of odd for someone with a 3.8 at a competitive suburban high school. Other kids with similar grades smoked the tests. Needless to say, Amanda was in tears when she got her scores...so she took them again...same results...her heart was heavy...all that work for 4 years to be blocked by a standardized test.

To rub salt in her wounds...Amanda has had her eye on architecture school for a while and was told by an authoritative figure that her scores needed to be higher to be accepted. Not sure who told her, but Amanda was demoralized...but she did not give up! There was no way she was going to let this defeat her.

Still she applied to several top notch schools...Harvard, McGill (Canada), Waterloo (Canada), University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Washington University, Rhode Island School of Design and Illinois Institute of Technology and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Most of the schools have so many applicants that they use a standardized form such as Harvard, McGill, Waterloo, Washington and others.

(I was opposed to the application for Harvard...but her aunt told her she would pay for Harvard if she got accepted...I am a gambling man...)

As you may have guessed, Amanda was not accepted to the schools who use a standardized form. Too bad for the freshmen class of 2011 at Harvard, McGill, Waterloo and Washington University...they will never get a chance to meet Amanda...in person that is...

But most importantly, Amanda was accepted by schools who had a more rigorous application and looked at more than just grades and test scores. She got into the architecture programs at the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota, RISD, SAIC and IIT. These are the schools that counted to Amanda! RISD is THE most prestigious Fine Arts and Design School in America...And IIT carries on the direct legacy of the famous Bauhaus from Germany.

Now the fun starts...RISD! That is really my first choice...Great! Awesome!!! By the way...How much does it cost? $55,000 per year! Oh...And it is a 5 year program? Oh. She got one of the highest scholarships! $10,000? Oh...ah that’s great... hmmm... 55 - 10 = 45 x 5 = 225 x 1,000 = $225,000! OMG! Houston, we have a problem. Arghhh...there is no way I could have ever saved up for that...what is going on here...we’ll save that for another post...

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago was not much cheaper...

Amanda is not the first middle class kid to be put in this position. Accepted to a prestigious private school, but no way to pay for it without an obscene debt burden. Some parents find a way to make this work. With no regrets. However, Amanda did not let this get in the way either.

Amanda had put all of her effort into her IIT application. Lots of it! She meticulously curated its content and did a wonderful job with her essays...

...her efforts paid off. Amanda was awarded the prestigious Camras Scholarship! Full ride for 5 years. This is the top honor that IIT can confer on an incoming freshman. Only 1% of IIT students are awarded this honorable scholarship.

...so, once again thanks to all of those who have played a role in Amanda’s life. Sorry, I am not listing anyone, though I would like to...

So, please celebrate with me and enjoy some of Amanda’s portfolio pieces...

Amanda developed her own logo (bottom right)...it actually spells AMANDA in stacked Korean letters...
Notice the logo at the bottom of this unique cup. It is truly one of a kind...and branded...by AMANDA.
Photo by Lyra Jakabhazy

A spread from her notebook about her internship at only Italian architecture firm of MotoElastico in Seoul, Korea.

Amanda’s influence by Do Ho Suh...

I really liked this sculpture...this was only submitted to RISD.

This one too!


Amanda was required to put together an exhibition for her senior thesis. She decided to create a functional piece of art that served has a stand and drew attention to other pieces.

The exhibition...What do you think? Nice...




This is simply stunning...from her summer in Seoul, 2010....

Notes for the previous sketch...

I am speechless...a 3 D paper sculpture...it is great to watch her master her art...

This is the coup de gras...what do you think?

Who is next?
Photo by Lyra Jakabhazy

Now Alexandria has her work cut out for her...Amanda has really set the bar for the rest of her siblings. However, Alex...has some serious talent as well...I can’t wait to see what she comes up with...and as for Austin and Adam...I know they will surprise me too...

Thanks again!