Letter to Future Freestyler

Dear you fellow Octopi, 

Yes, that may have sounded weird, especially when Mr. Greco says it but it makes you feel cool. I’m Astrid and I graduated in the year 2020. A strange and odd year to graduate, I am aware. As I sit at my computer at home, I miss my cintiq in design, the desktop in digital media (though those always gave me a hard time), and the chairs, kind of strange but they were comfortable for how broken they were. As an incoming junior, I entered Freestyle knowing how to type, the basic features of a camera, one junior, and two seniors. The first day was definitely odd but you could tell who were the seniors in that film room because of how close they all were, a tight knit community. With my full heart now, I believe that that is true. Whether you are in AM or PM or if it’s your first year or second, just start by breathing because though it may be a long road ahead, it will be fun, full of stories, projects, and emails. I can say confidently now, as a graduating senior, that I have acquired a lot more skills, found that I wanted to study in college, and have made some of my best friends through Freestyle. 

Here is some overall advice that I hope will help you out. Just so you know, I was in PM my junior year and AM my senior year, taking Digital Media, Design, and English Honors. First, know that there are always people in the class that can help you. I remember when we did audio, the person we’d ask was always Cristian or Jeremy. They always knew what was happening. For design related work, we’d ask Max and for video production, we’d ask Katherine, Eric, or Brandon. Yes, Mr. Greco, Katherine cause sometimes we weren’t just talking and having a good time, sometimes I needed help from her (haha). Second, use the equipment that is given to you. Like a camera, I used it to shoot sports photography and do photoshoots. As I have mentioned before, get the computer and cintiq or the audio recorder or whatever your passions are in equipment form. It will help you explore your skills outside the classroom and if you did something you liked in class, you can keep practicing or keep learning at home. Third, always expect the unexpected. It may be cheesy but like our school got hacked and our VPN was messed up so accessing things was hard at home. Our school turned into an online school, which well, has its ups and its down. There are other ones too but I don’t want to scare you off on your first week, just remember to command s, please. You have to be able to work through the problems but they will make you better. Four, be able to collaborate. One of my favorite things about Freestyle is the collaboration, whether it is assigned or not, being able to talk about your ideas and flush out the bad ones before talking to Ms. P or Mr. Greco has helped me create better and more successful projects. Also, enjoy yourself. Whether it is watching a “pick up basketball game”, which as a basketball player was kind of embarrassing watching what they were doing to my sport, to sitting outside on the couches to get a breath of fresh air, even if you were supposed to be finishing a digital media project, enjoy and capture every moment on the campus. Lastly, take advantage of your Freestyle teachers, they are some of the best ones that I have ever had. Mr. Flo is great for all computer problems and he even has helped me with my physics. Mr. Greco is great at English but he also is a great listener to all your problems. Ms. P is great at all design related work but also a great person to discuss all your doubts and worries of the world. Oh and side note, she loves carne asada burritos, may be helpful information during the documentary book. I am positive that the other teachers at Freestyle are just as great, I just didn’t get the pleasure of being in their class. I’m not too sure what number we are on but if you are planning on going into an art major, remember to take production shots of your favorite projects from Freestyle because these projects truly help with your college portfolio. On that note, also take advantage of Ms. Katz, she’s the one who recommended that I do the CCA pre-college program, which I did and loved. Feel free to reach out to me if you ever need any help or anything, I have been through it all. 

Enjoy every single moment of Freestyle because I know one day you will miss waiting until the last minute to turn in a digital media assignment, freaking out as your design project is not working out, the SFMOMA trip, the questionable basketball games, the Halloweens, the February showcases, the long lunches, and the dirty couches. Freestyle truly has helped me prepare to be the best design student out there, helping me be competitive in both the college admissions process and in the real world. Don’t procrastinate, though I am doing that right now, writing this instead of doing my math and my English essay, sorry Mr. Greco, but just don’t do it. Freestyle is a community that I will forever be grateful for and so glad that I submitted my application two year ago. Everyone is so talented in their own way because the universe worked its ways so that these people would be chosen to be your classmates so you can all succeed at Freestyle. I promise you that these two years will fly by quickly and soon you will be in my shoes, missing every single moment of it. Live in the moment, beautiful people, have an amazing day, and remember when there is no wind, row.

Be back soon,

Astrid Huang

Class of 2020