My name is Lucy Montemerlo, a junior and design student attending my first year at Freestyle Academy, which means that every single day I get to come to school and create! I’ve been ‘creating’ for a majority of my life, my childhood having been filled with art projects spanning every medium I could get my hands on, from the tactile satisfaction of clay molded between my fingers to the vibrant strokes of paint on a canvas. In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends, baking cookies, and watching movies!
‘Versatile’ has always been a word I’ve used to describe myself, at least three printed out certificates that deem me the “most versatile player” from my childhood recreational soccer teams tucked into my memory book. More than just a nostalgic label, this early recognition of an innate adaptability has blossomed into a foundational pillar of my personal philosophy. Being versatile is less about merely being good at many things, and more about an unwavering openness to diverse experiences. For me, this has always manifested as a deep curiosity, an insatiable desire to learn, and a readiness to pivot when circumstances demand. Yet, versatility alone is only one half of a larger whole, feeling incomplete without its deeply interconnected twin: creativity. If versatility is the willingness to acquire a tool, creation is the inherent drive to build something with it. Creativity, and the act of creation, is the moment when abstract thought solidifies into tangible reality, providing a window directly from my brain to the eyes of people who view my work, or even read my writing. It is a powerful form of self-expression, allowing me to give voice to my ever present imagination, and share my unique perspective with the world.
Currently, I am very passionate about writing, and as such, I spend a good chunk of my free time on this hobby. In addition to novel writing, I also enjoy fashion design and sewing because it allows me to turn the ideas in my head into physical garments. When I am not writing or sewing, I work on developing cookie recipes. Recently, I have been trying to apply the flavors of other deserts/pastries, like apple crisps or almond croissants, into cookies.
The choice to become a Freestyle student, however, was an easy one, fueled by the promise of access. The decision wasn’t just about having a wider array of educational choices, but also about pursuing areas specifically tailored to some of my passions. English classes, for instance, offer a dedicated unit to narrative writing, allowing me to pursue my literary aspirations in a more formal school setting. And my elective, Design, while very directly applicable to my love for fashion and garment design, also serves as an umbrella, encompassing a range of projects and programs that run parallel to my interests. Essentially, Freestyle offered me the agency to pursue aspects of art not commonly available at traditional school.