Two juniors from Foxworth will be finishing their high school careers in Brookhaven at the Mississippi School of the Arts.
Maleigh Crespo and Caitlin Smith began this semester at the prestigious institution.
The two-year, public boarding school accepts the state’s most talented artistic students who are given specialized training in their areas of interest as well as completing the traditional high school curriculum. Crespo, the daughter of Candy Love, is focusing on literary arts, and Smith is studying theater.
The students both say school at MSA is very different than what they’re accustomed to.
“A typical day here is nothing like it was at my old school,” Smith said, “Not only do we get out of school at 5 o’clock every day, but the curriculum is a lot harder.”
While MSA teaches various arts, it is still a school.
“Most people do not think that we do not have regular math or English classes, but we do! It’s just like a regular high school, with some modifications,” Crespo said.
Both Crespo and Smith live in dorms on the campus, the former home of Whitworth College, which was a four-year Methodist women’s college that the state converted into the arts high school in 2003. Smith said moving in the dorms was different than she expected, and Crespo says there are so many activities and clubs that they are kept busy so not to have too much time to be homesick.
Crespo said they have covered intermediate poetry, short fiction and playwriting with her favorite being poetry.
“Our literary arts instructor has really made our classroom setting immersive and a great learning environment to be in as a writer,” she said.
Crespo said her goals upon graduation are to go to college and major in journalism with a minor in anthropology and/or creative writing.
Smith said the theater courses are very demanding, both physically and mentally, yet every class is as much fun as it is complicated.
She said her goals upon graduating are going to Seattle for school and majoring in theater and minoring in cosmetology.
Both students say having support from their parents plays a huge role in choosing to attend MSA. Smith said at first her parents were nervous about her living on campus, but they understood the opportunity attending the school afforded her. Crespo said she still talks to her mother every day.
“I came in with my eyes wide open,” Crespo said. “I had no expectations or predispositions, so nothing has fallen short or exceeded what I thought it would be like here.”
Smith concluded, “I can honestly say going to school here is nothing like I thought it would be, but it will pay off. I was very blessed to be accepted.”
