I can't believe it has already been over a year since my time at Oxbow. I think about it everyday and sometimes have to remind myself that it was not a dream. Words cannot describe how life changing Oxbow really has been for me. My family and I are so incredibly thankful for everything Oxbow has done for me as a person and as an artist. I am currently attending The University of New Mexico and am looking into double majoring in Psychology and Biology (with a possible Art Minor!) My first semester went well and I just started my second semester a week ago. I have been very fortunate to stay in contact with my Oxbow classmates and visited one of them in New York this past summer, and then I was able to take a trip out to San Francisco this past fall. It is comforting that they still have such a strong presence in my life, because unless you have experienced Oxbow you will never truly know the magic that goes on at that amazing school!

Oxbow was, without a doubt, the best part of my high school experience. A year after leaving, and I still feel as though it were yesterday that I was sitting on the lawn, eating in the dining hall, and laughing with my friends in the studios.

I can say with all my heart that Oxbow has truly changed my life. In just one semester I saw a development in myself that I never thought could be possible. The creative and supportive atmosphere that they have created here is something that I know I will never find again because it is so unique. The school aspect of it was so much more enjoyable and exciting then traditional schooling is. Oxbow bridges the subjects and makes connections between all aspects of life. I made connections and built relationships that will last a lifetime. If you have this opportunity take it! I have no doubt that this experience has pushed me above my peers and has shown me what a life of art will be like. OS31 FOREVER!

I want to thank you all for being so supportive and wonderful, thank you for running this incredible program. And half of my acceptance to RISD is because of Oxbow. (Especially thanks to Chris who wrote my letter of rec, to Jennifer who revised my essays, to the admissions team who helped me with my portfolio.

Hey guys! OS33 alumni here! I received a full ride to California College of the Arts and just wanted to tell you guys that if it wasn't for the Oxbow experience and the great faculty who saw the potential in me I wouldn't have gotten as far as I did. I am still waiting for other colleges at the moment but I think this might be the school I will attend this fall!

Throughout my life I have considered myself an artist and creative thinker. I have recognized the importance of having art and creative thought as an integral part of my learning environment, shared by my teachers and my peers. Attending The Oxbow School in the fall of 2011 solidified that recognition. I have never before been so alive with curiosity, creativity, and adoration of every subject I was learning. Being a part of such a creative educational community allowed my imagination the space to explore the endless possibilities of creation. I was challenged and motivated by my teachers and peers on a daily basis to think outside the box and work hard, and that hard work paid off in immeasurable ways.

There's not a day that goes by where I'm not reminded of how I've grown at Oxbow. As I apply to colleges and begin to build my portfolio, these reminders become more prevalent. Oxbow for me was the push that I needed to reach my full potential and to develop from a boy to an upstanding young man. Not only has the program you offered improved by artwork visually but my work, thanks to your guidance and the guidance of the staff, has given my work meaning. Oxbow has become a pivotal point in my life and without it I would not be the ambitious person that I am today. I feel deeply gracious and privileged to have experienced the Oxbow School.

I have found myself closing the gap between the person I am when I am alone or in my head, and the person I am around my friends at Oxbow. As a consequence, I have found so many people who share my sense of humor, mental processes, or fears, to an extent that I feel I have made closer bonds here than anywhere else.

Before I say anything, I would just like to thank you for the amazing opportunity you helped give me by being my advisor at Oxbow last year. I grew in ways I would never have thought, and I will never forget the experience I had.

Over my time at Oxbow I learned about the importance of doing work that you are passionate about. I learned that when I truly love doing something, I will work harder, and the work I do will not only be much more fulfilling, but also be better in quality. I used this knowledge later in the school year, by putting twists on school projects that would allow me to do them in ways I would enjoy. The end product was both more satisfying and much better.

During my time at Oxbow, I was very involved in the English class, because it focused on the creative and analytical side of the subject rather that the more conventional academic side.

At Oxbow, we students were treated as equals by the faculty. When discussing my artwork, I didn’t feel like I was a kid being talked to by an adult. I felt like I was an artist having a consultation and critique with a more experienced artist.

Finally, I want to thank you for being a mentor throughout my Oxbow experience. It was very important to me that someone who was as calm, approachable, and just plain cool, though out the whole program.

In college I plan to integrate art, music and my other interests including science, computers, and entrepreneurship. I’m applying to Liberal Arts Colleges (Bard, Wesleyan, Oberlin) and to one program that seems to have been designed with me in mind. USC has a new degree - the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation. It’s a collaborative program which focuses not just on art, music and design but on integrating those subjects with invention and conceptual thinking. It’s my dream school. I’m also very interested in Bard and Wesleyan.

I would like to that you and everyone at Oxbow for EVERYTHING you guys did for me. My whole experience in Napa helped me out in indescribable ways in both short and long term. On a lower level, it gave me a well-needed break from Block Island, while in the bigger picture I gained more knowledge than I could have ever imagined. It was the best experience I have ever been a part of, especially in high school. All of the faculty and staff should be immensely commended for all that you do for every student who attends Oxbow. I thank each and every one of you so much! As much as I miss Oxbow, I am glad to be home with a clearer consciousness. My four months there made me a better student, artist, and taught me life skills that would have taken years to acquire on my own. The people I met were amazing. I gained friends and mentors who I will have for life.

My experience at Oxbow is still ever present in my daily life. It was at Oxbow that I realized how much I actually love learning, that school isn't something that I need to drag myself through. I thank everyone in Napa who helped me come to that realization. I have yet to make it to the West Coast since my semester ended, but am trying to go out for the alumni reunion. I hope everyone is well, and congratulations for making the ten year marker! I cannot express how proud I am to have been part of such a wonderful place!