This spring, UTEP student Rachel Ann Arreola will be one of the 48 Archer Fellow students in Texas where she will intern at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.
Arreola who is a senior majoring in Theatre Arts with a minor in Dance will be part of the “Turnaround Arts Program.” The program founded in 2011 under the Obama Administration was set to help low performing schools through art education.
“Turnaround Arts has implemented the arts-such as theatre, dance, music, and art-into 73 low -performing elementary and middle schools around the nation,” Arreola said. “This internship will allow me to expand my research and analytical skills that pertain to how the arts impact lives.”
Arreola said her parents exposed her to the arts at a very young age. She used to play violin in elementary school and joined band during middle school and high school.
“I specifically became interested in theatre from watching my twin brother perform on stage at El Paso High School,” Arreola said. “From watching several productions I developed a fascination with the entire aesthetic from the set, light, and costume designs and knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the arts.”
Arreola, who is involved in many school organizations, said her goal of becoming an Archer Fellow began when she was part of the Student Leadership Institute at UTEP under the University Honors Program.
“After completing that semester long program, we were given the opportunity to be a part of the Student Enrichment and Experience program where we went to Washington DC, New York, and Boston,” Arreola said. “One day when we were in DC, we visited the Archer Center and given a presentation of what the program was, from that moment I knew I would be back in DC as an Archer Fellow.”
Arreola said some of the UTEP programs that have allowed her to grow professionally as a representative of El Paso and UTEP are the Liberal Arts Honors Program, the University Honors Program and the Miner Ambassadors.
“I feel incredibly thankful that UTEP offers several amazing and life changing opportunities for its students to learn from, they can be difficult to find, but they exist,” Arreola said. “I would say that the most important resource for students to take advantage of is the Career Center, they have assisted me with sharpening resumes and cover letters many times and I owe that office many thanks.”
For Arreola representing UTEP and the El Paso community at its is one of her goals during this internship.
“I wish to make the most out of my time at the internship. I want to demonstrate my work ethic and allow the Kennedy Center to see what a UTEP student can bring to the table,” Arreola said.
Besides completing her full-time internship at the Kennedy Center, Arreola will be attending daily weekly professional art workshops and will take courses in politics, advocacy and policy-making process.
“I hope to see how the Turnaround Arts program is influenced by government policies and how advocating for the arts is conducted in order for various communities to continue to have the exposure to the arts around the nation,” Arreola said.
Going out of state or even out of the nation is always an enriching experience for students, Arreola who has already made two study abroad trips to Cuba and Italy knows this internship will bring her a positive outcome.
“I know this experience will positively affect my life and help guide me toward my future goals of either starting my career in the theater industry or attending film school,” Arreola said. “I think that this internship will allow me to understand how to approach a project that entails the arts to be more accessible to various communities in the United States.”
Arreola who is graduating in May said she is planning on becoming both a film and theater producer to travel around the world to learn about different cultures and art forms.
“If all goes well I plan on giving back to El Paso by having the arts be more accessible to children and adults from low income households,” Arreola said.
