Hi, my name is Nicolas and I am a third year NYU student studying photography and imaging. Additionally I am pursuing a double major in Economics as well as a minor in documentary and a minor in the stern-tisch Entertainment Business. My favourite thing about NYU is the city. I love exploring the city, trying all types of food, and love going around on Citibikes trying to see every corner of it. I am involved in a few student organizations like Por Colombia ( Colombian student group), Baedeker( Travel Magazine club), and athletics, as I worked as a photographer for the athletics department. I also love soccer and always do intramurals with my friends apart from the many pick up soccer opportunities here in the city.

Hometown

Born in Kansas, Grew up in Gilroy, California and Mt Dora, Florida

Major(s)

Photography and Imaging Economics

Minor(s)

Documentary Film Buisness of Entertainment

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Baedeker (Travel Magazine)- Director of Photography NYU Athletics- Athletics Photographer Por Colombia (Cultural Group) Washington Square News (Student Run Newspaper) ISO (Photography Magazine) Kappa Sigma Fraternity

Describe your college experience

Exhilarating and Colourful. The transition into college at NYU was something that I don't think you can prepare for. The range of opportunity, the diversity of the student body in every respect, I think leads to everyone having a unique experience. I personally have strived to make my experience involve the best elements of what is on offer at NYU. At school, I have been able to curate a diverse group of concentrations to fit my wide array of passions at things that NYU does really well. Further, at least in comparison to most of the people I know at NYU, I have really tried to squeeze as much of what NYC has to offer. In fact, I would say one of my biggest hobbies freshman year, while a little less now, was simply exploring. Getting on a bike and seeing the city, people watching, going anywhere that seemed interesting on the map. It's something that ties into my intended career but also something that becomes extremely fruitful in a place like New York. Equally, the people at NYU are incredibly interesting. Such an array of characters is both rare and incredible to experience. Ideas, ambition, and colourful would be the best way to describe the student body which I have grown to love. Luckily I have been able to foster beautiful relationships and friendships which have a wonderful range of personalities. All while with the backdrop of NYC. I describe my experience as colourful because it really has been an incredible spectrum of experiences. This is perhaps my most beloved aspect of going to NYU. That I have been able to live life, experiencing so many things that usually cannot live together at any other place that is not NYU or NYC.

Tip for future students

The biggest thing at NYU is , you must make a conscious effort to leave your comfort zone. NYU is a place that proves unenjoyable for some , because it is a difficult place in many respects. Primarily it can be very isolating. If you get unlucky at the start of your time here, you could end up in an undesirable situation. Alone and not being able to find your people combined with the size and bustle of the city, many feel very alone. Whether in this situation or if you struck luckier , the fruit of NYU must be searched for. It naturally remains hidden, it's not out in the open. There are whole worlds of happening at NYU that you wouldn't even know exist because everything is hidden in a building and too far spread out. So you must make an effort to explore, to reach out to people. This is the best way to go to try to find the fruit from your NYU experience. The second tip is that you must be honest with yourself about what you want out of your college experience. NYU has many allures, but your day to day life and future should be at the core of your college decision. NYU is a one of kind school. There is no other school in the world that will produce an expierience anything like it. In that respect, if that's not what you are looking for, then it's not going to be for you. Many schools share parallels of lifestyles with other schools but NYU doesn't have many. So make sure to know what type of experience you are looking for in college, because NYU provides little wiggle room for others.

Favorite class

My favourite class was Sight and Sound ( Narrative). This is the Film and Tvs sophomore production course. Even though I am not in the Film department I was able to get approved through the open arts system to take this class and count it to my photography studio credits. This 6 credit class is an intensive journey through every aspect of the filmmaking process in small bites. Grouped into crews of 4 you are responsible for producing 5 short films of your own as well as helping to produce and crew the other 15 of your crew and anyone else you would like to collaborate with in your class. You are also responsible to attend technical sessions and check out techs, to attain technical proficiency as well as understand the equipment that you will be using during the course. Further, twice a week you attend 4 hour sessions of screening of the films as well as discussions. All this to say, it is incredibly intensive. This was my favourite part, it really became an all encompassing part of my life. The main focal point of that semester. With that, I was able to understand at least the rudimentary map of what making a film is like and what it is like to collaborate making one. Further, I was able to continue developing my love for the visual arts regardless of whether it was photography or not. The collaboration and inspiration from my peers was unmatched. Both idea inducing and inspiring, to me it was one of the best parts about that class. Of course, the opportunity to work in one of Tisch's best departments cannot be understated. Working in a department like FMTV, one of the , if not the best in the nation at what they do , was incredibly valuable and enjoyable. 100 percent one of my favourite classes.

Career goals

After college I hope to work somewhere in the documentary space. Whether film or photography, being a part of capturing and telling real stories is what most inspires me. Being able to be fluid in what I dedicate myself to is also something that is very important to me. You can be neck deep in a project of a certain topic, but eventually it will end and you get to work on something completely unique and different. In the best case scenario, I would love to work in the Travel world. Whether, food, adventure, or people , culture has always been one of my forefront interests. An entire world that is unknown to me and to perhaps my audience burns a fire in me. Even if I had 100 years, I couldn't finish exploring this world. Integrating that, with the passion I have for visual storytelling would be all I could ask for.

Ideal way to spend a free night

The best free night I could think of would start off with a short stint of work of some kind. Maybe around 5 or 6. It's a Friday and I'm still on campus but I have one final piece of work to finish. Even if miniscule, all I want to do is go home and finish the week, but I know that 30 minutes of work can free me until Sunday. So I get stuck in for 30 minutes, feeling the budding excitement as I draw nearer to the end. Then a few final words, opening brightspace, and submitting the assignment. Then the best feeling, I slap the laptop shut, pack up and walk satisfied to the city bike station. I hop on an ebike, start the music and soak in the city as I surf through the streets and afternoon rush back home. I get home, toss the backpack to the corner of the room and change into some comfy clothes. Then I go ask the roommates a question they'll never say no to. Game of FIFA? I play some fifa without a care in the world . A couple hours pass and it's time to go to dinner. We met up with some friends for some type of family style chinese place, Mountain House maybe. The beautiful chaos of chatter, laughter, everyone reaching over each other to grab as much food as they can. Fantastic. After dinner, we all go out. Everything slows down as people dance and the music becomes a part of the environment. We hit a couple spots as time begins to make less sense and the night winds down. Then my favourite part. We slowly migrate to 7th street burger. At this hour, a pretty good smashburger becomes a 3 star michelin meal. I joke with friends and sadly finish the burger. Then all that's left is to say goodbye to friends, and make the most peaceful of walks home, immersed in a quiet gratitude as I walk through this beautiful city I get to live in.

High school or secondary school

Montverde Academy- Montverde, Florida, USA