Collective Thoughts UIC Students Fall 2024
Blog Post Written by Dr. Debbie Mendez
Dania Beach, FL-
Collective Thoughts is a blog published once a semester by our UIC students. We are pleased to present the work of our student authors. Our blog is open to an array of genres including fiction, essays, and creative writing pieces. Our blog is an open space for our UIC students to IMAGINE, CREATE, and INSPIRE as they share their creative expressions. The mission of Creative Thoughts is to provide a platform to showcase the unique voice of the developing and emerging writer and to foster the love of writing.
During the Fall semester, our students took time to reflect on our American values and how these values have helped to shape our nation and set the stage for our democratic experiment. Students took time to deliberate on the first three words of the United States Constitution, “We the People”… In addition, students were asked to contemplate and share a pivotal time in their lives and how it brought them to where they are today.
We are thankful to our wonderful students for sharing with us!
Parnya Nadeem -Class of 2028
Nicolas Guzman Camacho – Class of 2028
Damon Phillips – Class of 2028
Carly Jure- Class of 2027
Carolina Posse Valencia – Class of 2027
Learning and its Creative Process
Written by Prof. Dr. Marcela Moyano
Miramar, FL –
The President’s Graduation Reception took place on Friday, June 28th at 10:00 a.m. at the J. Alberto Moyano Auditorium.
The event started with the pitching of the Business Expo students enrolled in Prof. Jack Rose who meticulously had put together their business ventures displays at the Summer Business Expo 2024. Watch a video of each of the student entrepreneurs in Prof. Rose’s blog post on the Business Expo.
Followed by the student business pitching, the Wired: Satisfying Narratives Through Shapes, Colors, and Textures art gallery was officially opened and artists, Andres Zorrilla, Fernando Zicarelli, and Charly Silva were introduced. Art dealer and manager German Chavez from Colour Senses Project was also introduced and Dr. Marcela Moyano, Director of Communications of United International College thanked him and the artists for their support in enhancing the arts at UIC.
Then, Prof. Rose commemorated President Lydia Bautista Möller and mentioned that United International College is about leadership that starts with UIC’s president. He said that leadership channels in the kind of team work that can be witnessed in events such as the President’s Graduation Reception.
Right after Prof. Rose’s words, Dr. Marcela Moyano introduced the Documentary course that Communications and Mass Media students take as part of their last requirement of the program and presented senior students, Valerie Seguin, film Director, and Renata Diniz, film Assistant Director.
During the course of six weeks, the students learned about the theory and historical background of the art of documentary production and produced United in Diversity: Voices of International UIC Students. The film features five students native to Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Romania, and Russia. The purpose of the documentary is to portray the journey of international students from the moment they decide to embark on the journey of studying in the United States and explore all the challenges and opportunities they encounter along the way.
The students opened up during interviews with Valerie Seguin and shared their most intimate emotions of their journey. The documentary is an uplifting piece of work that demonstrates to other international students of how their experience is alike and inspires students around the world to embark in such daring journeys that certainly elevates their life.
Angelica Moyano, Provost of United International College is featured in the film and shares the history of UIC throughout its 24 years of having been established in South Florida and its passion for serving international students.
The running time of the documentary is 32:02 minutes. After the screening, the audience asked questions to the filmmakers and Ana Maria Socha who was one of the students featured in the film. Everyone in the auditorium was moved and congratulated the filmmaker for having accomplished such a film in a short frame of time. They also thanked Ana Maria Socha and the other students for sharing their personal experiences in the film.
The reception concluded and everyone was looking forward to celebration the XXII Commencement Ceremony on the very next day. A few of the students who participated in this event were graduating.
- Learn more about Associate, Bachelor, or Master Degree programs. Learn more about UIC Programs,
- How to apply to UIC
- How to enroll as an International Student
- and how to become a student athlete at UIC
Future Entrepreneurs Showcase their Business Ventures
Written by Prof. Jack Rose
Miramar, FL – The Summer 2024 term, at United International College, ended with the largest Business Expo in the college’s history, when 22 budding entrepreneurs showcased their businesses to visitors attending the Expo.
Under the direction of Professor Jack J. Rose, students learned not only the challenges of opening up a new business, but the importance of growing their business to achieve a higher level of success. Students had to submit their product/service for approval and identify their primary and secondary target markets. Ongoing marketing research was a key ingredient that Professor Rose emphasized, since each location has different clientele. As a former buyer, he stressed the importance of a merchandise plan, and knowing everything about their customers. Today, localization marketing is the key to all businesses having more than one location.
From an economic standpoint, most cities want businesses to come to their community to boost the economy – providing employment and becoming involved community members. Globally, student must know the laws of each city/country, and the importance of knowing what marketing techniques are best to reach the target customer.
Chikamo Farms is the brainchild of Kumawuese Chiattitor. The farm specializes in producing organic vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, pepper, carrots, different bean varieties, and celery.
At the Expo, Kuma spoke with Thai Tran, the founder of Chao, featuring traditional Vietnamese Cuisine. Since Thai’s business is built on quality ingredients, a “marriage” was made between the two entrepreneurs.
Diana Carolina Enciso’s Exquisite Clean is a high-end luxury cleaning service and exclusive provider of cleaning and maintenance solutions for luxury home and properties located in the affluent neighborhoods of South Florida.
Rank Marathon Digital Solutions is the service provider created by Sadat Fahim. His company offers a comprehensive range of marketing services, including, but not limited to, Website Audit, Email Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, On-Page SEO, Of-Page SEO, Google Ads, and META ads. Rank Marathon’s goal is to provide convenient and effective marketing solutions for start-ups and established companies.
Nicholas Lamont Gravely’s 2047 Restaurant is the fulfillment of his dream to open a restaurant featuring American and Soul food, and become an important member of the community by being open 24 hour — serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 24/7. Every item arrives from the kitchen freshly made with the finest ingredients and love. Most important is the customer service experience to keep his customers returning to his business.
SnackSmart’s motto is “Fuel Your Day the Smart Way” and founder Jahed Hosson’s company provides vending machines to any company or organization that wants to promote healthy choices to their employees. These machines offer a wide-range of products, including organic snacks, gluten-free options, protein bars, fresh fruits, and natural beverages.
Sam’s Sweet Bakery attracted many attendees since they were invited to sample some of Samantha Igor’s delectable creations. Her slogan, “Find Happiness in Every Bite” came to fruition as each visitor sampled her baked goods. Within five years, Sam intends to build a great marketing brand and be an active member of the community.
Tanjim Ul Kahn’s Green Buds Waste company specializes in repurposing cigarette butts into a range of eco-friendly products including keyrings, mosquito repellants, pillows, dolls and more. By recycling these discarded butts, the company not only reduces environmental pollution, but also creates unique and sustainable items that serve various purposes.
Zen Rolls is looking to be the premiere establishment for sushi rolls. The brainchild of Maria Paula Malaver, her goal is to become the go-to place for real hand rolls, where besides the traditional rolls, customers will have the opportunity to sample different rolls, all made of the finest quality ingredients.
Marrying his love of baseball and his dream of owning a restaurant, Anthony Monroy, plans to open All Star Kitchens, using a baseball theme motif throughout the venue. His target market are families, students, and tourists who enjoy experiencing different cuisines in a friendly, inviting atmosphere. His future growth of his company includes becoming a source for family events, company picnic, and community events as the only source for successful events in the area.
Aqua Flow Essentials is a business that Benjamin Morganti is extremely excited about since his passion for water sports lit the lightbulb of excitement for his business as an entrepreneur. His tagline, “Flowing Towards Efficiency – Unlocking the Power of Fluid Dynamics for a Sustainable Future” aptly states the intention for his business. Benjamin sees his business location on the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk offering top-quality paddle boards, water sports clothing, and extreme sports gear. His future goal is to grow his business within other beachfront locations throughout Florida and beyond.
Carolina Posse’s Inner Journey Expeditions is a travel agency that seeks to sell tours for women to erotic destinations or with a spiritual vibe, not only to get to know the destination, but to make a healing workshop on different topics such as female lineage, healing of the uterus, healing of father and mother, etc. Her target market is the group of Latin women (because tours will be in Spanish), over 35 years of age, and who are in search for their lkigai (purpose of life).
David Rhead’s Hills and Valleys clothing company reflects his religious beliefs and looks forward to spreading the word throughout the USA and Canada by helping others represent their faith. His target market are Christians, ages 20-35, and is convinced his slogan, “Put God First” will attract more people to love and believe in their faith.
Mikael Silva’s MSS Soccer Club, fulfills the dreams of this Brazilian Soccer player who wants to develop talents for this sport. His ambitious goals are to start with five youngsters that he will coach, and grow MSS Soccer Club in five years to ten coaches, each having a group of 50 kids. With his drive, hard work, and motivation, Mikael will succeed in developing players for not only Brazil, but the world.
Artem Sorokin has created JumpBall Agency to assist athletes to locate schools in the USA and Europe where they can receive a great education and participate in the college of university’s basketball program. A member of the United International College’s basketball team, Artem has the experience in knowledge in navigating this goal for so many young people.
Elite Skills FL was created by Elias Vera and his tagline, “Create Your Own Path,” mirrors his goal for training young athletes interested in basketball, with an emphasis on skills development, fitness training, and competitiveness drills. Within five years, Elias sees Elite Skills FL becoming the only destination for basketball training in the region, expanding their services to include summer camps, specialized coaching programs, and partnerships with school and youth leagues.
- Learn more about Associate, Bachelor, or Master Degree programs. Learn more about UIC Programs,
- How to apply to UIC
- How to enroll as an International Student
- and how to become a student athlete at UIC
It Takes a Village and Gratitude to Get to Commencement Day: UIC Celebrates its XXII Commencement Ceremony
Written by Dr. Marcela Moyano
Miramar, Florida – United International College held its 22nd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 29th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Savor Cinema Fort Lauderdale, 503 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 awarding Master, Bachelor, and Associate degrees to 34 students representing the USA, Pakistan, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Canada, Bangladesh, China, Romania, France, Haiti, Vietnam, Colombia, Brazil, and Honduras.
The ceremony was opened with the interpretation of the National Anthem of the United States, the Star Spangled Banner by Alin Turculescu, a former Romanian folklore music singer and Business Administration Bachelor Degree recipient.
UIC’s co-founder and President, Lydia Bautista Moller, delivered her speech and started by congratulating the Class of 2024. She accoladed the UIC Eagle Rays and mentioned her own love for the sport of Basketball. She also urged the students to always look for what makes them happy as the Holistic Model of Education of UIC teaches.
Jean Souffrant, the Executive Director at Pierre Toussaint Leadership and Learning Center, and Director of Notre Dame D’Haiti Catholic Church served as the Commencement Speaker. He works alongside Father Reginald Jean-Mary who has been an influential agent of change in the Haitian diaspora in the United States, always bringing together Haitian migrants and prominent leaders , and empowering them with a message of hope from a powerful spiritual faith.
Souffrant started his speech singing a religious song, delivered an empowering speech motivating students to always continue reaching their dreams, and concluded his speech with a teaching of Apostle Paul by stating that “in everything that you do, always maintain an attitude of gratitude…never forget where you came from.”
Luis Hernandez was the Magna Cum Laude Business Administration Undergraduate Commencement Speaker. Hernandez is an Eagle Ray Baseball student athlete who shared in his speech the nuances of his daily work being a student athlete to reach the moment of his commencement ceremony from his associate in Business Administration. (a dream com true)
Hernandez mentioned that he had arrived from Venezuela as an international student to play baseball. He told the graduating class of 2024 that anyone in the world would love the chance to be in their place as graduates from UIC in the United States. He also recognized that students’ workload and responsibilities might seem stressful and over achievable and added: “we will always find a way to accomplish everything we desire and succeed.”
You can learn about Luis’ journey as an Eagle Ray Baseball student athlete in a blog post that Prof. Jack Rose wrote about him after interviewing him. Learn about Luis
Angelica Moyano, the Provost of UIC, awarded the diplomas to students. The President guided the Alumni Oath, and the Graduating Class recognized Faculty and family members for their support throughout the years. The ceremony concluded with a sense of accomplishment and immense joy.
Ximena Caraballo, an alumna from the Communications and Mass Media program, volunteered to conduct the media coverage and live stream of the ceremony. A fine team of volunteers joined to facilitate the Commencement Ceremony including UIC students, staff, and members of the community, including Detective Yesenia Diaz, from the Miramar Police Department of the City of Miramar.
UIC Eagle Rays have a home away from home and they are always welcome back to study another degree or to share their life stories with their UIC family.
- Learn more about Associate, Bachelor, or Master Degree programs. Learn more about UIC Programs,
- How to apply to UIC
- How to enroll as an International Student
- and how to become a student athlete at UIC
Discipline Motivates Achievement
Written by Prof. Jack Rose
Miramar, Florida – There are times when I just need to take a break and recharge my batteries, like the Energizer Bunny. For me, this usually happens during football season when I can wake up, shower, and crawl in bed for the day to watch the games. However, as a professor, I tell students that I have learned more in my lifetime by listening and observing. While books are important, listening to others, observing what is happening in our environment brings more knowledge, and important life skills.
While students are number one, each student is an individual and must be challenged to reach a high altitude. Then, there are those who truly amaze me and I wish I can clone them. Knowing that I cannot, I decided to interview Luis Alejandro Hernandez, a member of our UIIC Baseball Team, a catcher and second baseman, to find out how Luis manages to succeed on the field, in the classroom, at his job, and with his peers.
Luis was born in Venezuela and came to United International College last year, as a Business Administration major, not only to obtain his college degree, but to be a member of a college baseball team. At 21 years old, Luis has set many goals for himself and strives to achieve them. Having had Luis in different classes, and aware of his position on the baseball team, Luis shared with me that he also works. He just doesn’t have a job; he is a manager and shared with me how he practices customer service excellence and instills that to his team.
Luis takes pride in his strong work ethics, which contributed to his advancement to a management position at 100 Montaditos Restaurant in Miami Lakes. Starting as a cook, Luis developed his culinary skills, and was promoted to kitchen leader, and began showcasing his leadership abilities. Noticed and impressed by his ability to multi-task and his belief that the customer must leave happy, Luis became a manager, not only responsible for the training and development of new employees, but accepted the challenge to work with his existing team and challenged staff to exceed customer service excellence. He also accepted the responsibility of the entire operations of the restaurant, from working with vendors and suppliers, to planning the daily and weekly menus.
I asked Luis how he manages to do everything, and do it well. He quickly answered, “Discipline” and then continued to state, “I strongly believe in discipline that can truly drive responsibility,” and he confides that past teachers and professors have noticed that about him.
Luis lives by a philosophy that he has instilled in himself. “Be better and be the best,” and explains, “It doesn’t matter what people do to you, but I have to be better and not do the same thing to another person. “I have to be better because I want to assure myself that in every aspect of my life/career, I will give my best efforts to be good at it, and do my best.
Luis concludes by saying something that really hit home. “What motivates me is the sense of discipline, and making my family, people around me, and myself, proud of everything I do as well as the desire of accomplishing the kind of life I want to have.”
In speaking with other professors, when the name of Luis Hernandez is mentioned, the positive feedback is immediate reflected on his philosophy of always wanting to be better. Perhaps, this interview will inspire others to develop the philosophy that helps Luis to succeed. Are you up to that challenge?
Luis was chosen to be the Student Speaker of the XXII Commencement Ceremony of United International College.
Congratulations, Luis, on your accomplishments and we are certain that you will keep climbing higher and higher, not only for you, but for your family, friends, and mentors.
- Learn more about Associate, Bachelor, or Master Degree programs. Learn more about UIC Programs,
- How to enroll as an International Student
- and how to become a student athlete at UIC
Becoming Entrepreneurs: Business Communication Students Experience the Mock Interview
Written by Prof. Jack Rose
Miramar, FL – The Spring 2024 term for students, at United International College, came to a close with several activities enjoyed by students before taking their final exams.
One such educational activity was the Mock Interviews that students in Professor Jack J. Rose’s Business Communications class participated in as the final activity of the term. The course covers both oral and written communications and students are challenged to hone their communication skills through various projects and activities throughout the term. The Mock Interviews are the culminating activity to the course.
Several students in this class completed Professor Rose’s Human Resources Management class and, therefore, sparked an idea to challenge those students to interview their peers to put theory into practice. The interviewers and the interviewees switched roles so each gained the knowledge and experience in interviewing techniques.
Student feedback was most favorable and several stated that the event helped to build their self-confidence and to ease any nervousness they might have had.
The Magic of Theater: Character Study Monologue Scope
Blog Post Written by Marcela Moyano
Over the course of the spring 2024 term, United International College Communications and Mass Media undergraduate students learned about the appreciation of theater and the world of performing arts. The course was taught by Prof. Joey Ashley.
Students were challenged to understand different identities through the lens of performing art by diving into character study. Students underwent deep learning into a character’s traits and personality to understand why characters act the way they do.
Overall, this study revolves around a protagonist’s hopes, dreams, desires, challenges, fears, and life path. Each student had the opportunity to choose a pre-existing monologue from a film/TV show/stage or any published media – that they identified with, and to carefully examine the character of that monologue through their own cultural lens.
“I was in awe and so very proud of how well devoted each student committed to the art of theater. The students truly connected to their characters, and this transparently showed in their remarkable live performances. This was an opportunity for non-acting students to challenge their own identities by stepping outside their perspectives into another’s point of view of understanding.” – Prof. Joey Lamar Ashley
On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, students performed their monologues at the Int’l Voices of Theater at the J. Alberto Moyano Auditorium to an audience composed of UIC students, faculty, and local entrepreneurs, friends of UIC. Prior to the performance, students were anxious, as for the majority of them, this was the first time they were acting in front of an audience.
“I’m Valerie Seguin from France. Today, I invite you to join me on a journey of celebrating the spirit of women. Through this monologue, let’s explore their strength, resilience, and determination in the face of life’s challenges. Thank you for being part of this performance. Let’s begin” was the opening line of Valerie Seguin who interpreted a parody monologue of Wonder Woman.
Students who performed their monologue piece were:
Valerie Seguin – Wonder Woman
Anthony Monroy – Iron Man
Abdul Haseeb – Vern, the Haunted Manor
Sa Sa Wu – Ana in Frozen 2013
Kiril Ilchuk-Sonic the Hedgehog
Martha Rodriguez – Gloria in Barbie 2023
Edward Espinoza – Games of Thrones
After their performance, there was a Q&A moderated by Prof. Ashley in which students had the opportunity to voice their experience as they prepared for this act and their post-performance reactions. Most of them agreed that they had a better outcome when they were faced with the public. They also agreed that they somewhat selected traits of characters that they best identified with. Finally, most of them felt relieved and empowered after the performance. Their anxiety went away after performing and they realized that they had a talent to act that perhaps they didn’t know about. 
“I truly believe each student now has gained a deep appreciation for actors and performing artists from all over the world as it’s not an easy task to perform but it certainly helps to understand the world by knowing we all are different characters living a different story in one interconnected world.” Prof. Joey Lamar Ashley
“It was breathtaking to observe how this performing event brought our UIC students to a higher level of understanding of their own personal struggles and some might have even had some type of katharsis to heal inner wounds or simply empower themselves to keep moving forward to reach their career and personal goals. The magic of theater is simply mesmerizing.” Dr. Marcela Moyano, Communications and Mass Media Program Director.
UIC is proud of the students’ accomplishments. They have unlocked their performing talents.
Learn more about UIC’s Associate’s and Bachelor’s Communication and Mass Media Program
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Celebrating Academic and Athletic Excellence: A Recap of the Awards Ceremony at UIC
Blog Post Written by Valerie Seguin
On Friday, April 26th, 2024, the J. Alberto Moyano Auditorium & Art Gallery was filled with excitement and pride as the United International College (UIC) honored its outstanding students and athletes in a grand ceremony. The evening was a testament to the dedication, hard work, and excellence that define the UIC community.
Among the highlights of the evening was the recognition of Martha Rodriguez, who was awarded the prestigious Academic Excellence Award for achieving a remarkable GPA of 3.97, the highest among UIC students. Congratulations poured in for Martha, whose commitment to academic excellence serves as an inspiration to us all.
The celebration continued with the announcement of the UIC President’s List awardees, comprising students who achieved a CGPA higher than 3.82. UIC Provost Angelica Moyano proudly introduced the exceptional scholars: Jean-Daniel Augustin, Luis Alejandro Hernandez, Edward Espinosa, Marene Stark, Naomi Mangiapane, and Hannah Freden. Each of these individuals exemplifies the academic rigor and dedication that UIC values.
The spirit of leadership was celebrated with the presentation of the Leadership Award to David Rhead, acknowledging his outstanding qualities and contributions to the UIC community.
In addition to academic achievements, the ceremony also recognized exemplary contributions in various fields. Valerie Seguin, an intern in the communications department, and Dylan Francisco, an intern in the Athletic Department, were honored for their commitment to their respective professions, setting a high standard for their peers.
Athletic prowess took center stage as Baseball head coach Marcos Cabral bestowed the Cy Young Award (Best Pitcher) upon Jesus Delgado and the MVP (Most Valuable Player) title upon George Gallardo.
Women’s head coach Johana Karbanova recognized Natalia Peixe as the greatest team player, Keila Gonzalez as the most improved player, and Astrid Beckemeier as the MVP, highlighting their invaluable contributions to their teams’ success.
Men’s head soccer coaches Sergio Guarita and Samir Malini presented the MVP award to Carly Jure, while Tennis Coach Jahanzed Inam honored Diego Vargas with the MVP award for his outstanding performance on the court.
Dr. Ted Abernethy, UIC Eagle Rays Athletics Director, took pride in presenting the Men’s Basketball MVP award to Artem Sorokin and the prestigious Mr. Eagle Ray award to Anthony Monroy. The title of Ms. Eagle Ray was bestowed upon Naomi Mangiapane by UIC President Lydia Bautista Moller, recognizing her exceptional leadership and contributions to UIC athletics.
The evening also celebrated the remarkable impact of student initiatives, with Dr. Marcela Moyano UIC Communications Director and Advancement presenting the Difference Maker Award to the @daepodcast and @d.vacilon podcast. These platforms exemplify the power of student voices in fostering dialogue and understanding within the UIC community and beyond.
As the ceremony drew to a close, Dr. Ted Abernethy expressed gratitude to the coaching staff for their unwavering dedication and, celebrated the achievements of each team throughout the academic year. President Lydia Bautista Moller emphasized the importance of caring, joy, and love in the UIC and Eagle Rays community, embodying the spirit of Holistic Education at UIC.
The Awards Ceremony celebrated at J. Alberto Moyano Auditorium & Art Gallery was an emotional celebration of academic and athletic excellence, showcasing the remarkable achievements and contributions of the UIC community. As we look forward to the future, let us continue to uphold the values of excellence, leadership, and community that define the spirit of UIC. Congratulations to all the awardees and best wishes for continued success in their endeavors.
Follow some of the Award’s Night content on instagram
The Drawing Art Exhibition Phases Opened at UIC after an 8-Week ART 101: Drawing Course of Learning How to Reconnect with the Right Side of their Brain
Written by Dr. Marcela Moyano
UIC students enrolled in the Summer 2022 ART 101: Drawing Course with Prof. Elizabeth Abaya unveiled their art exhibition ‘Phases” at the J. Alberto Moyano Art Gallery at United International College on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Students were proud of having been able to complete their self-portraits and other works to be exhibited in the gallery. Prof. Abaya led the students to reconnect with their natural art instincts in just eight summer weeks “These artists were, in many ways, burdened by self-doubt as they put their left-brain adult mentality aside, and embraced the right-brain creative mentality that allows us all to draw masterpieces as children.” added Prof. Abaya.
Communications and Mass Media student, Carolina Portilla, under the direction of Prof. Ken Ninomiya produced a live radio show at the UIC radio studio to meet the artists, learn about their art and Prof. Abaya.
Popular Romanian singer Alin Turculescu is one of the UIC student artists who exhibited his artwork, Leaves and Self-Portrait and the first one to be interviewed for the show. He shared with the audience that he enjoyed his experience in the Drawing course. “I’ve noticed that drawing really helps you in order to relax, you can focus on your drawing and forget about everything else,” says Turculescu.
Martha Rodriguez is a Venezuelan student who exhibited her work. She has a background in Graphic Design and now she is completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications and Mass Media. She exhibited two works, Buzz Lightyear Observation and Self-Portrait. She explains how her Self portrait is an expression of the pandemic time. The artwork resulted from a self portrait photograph taken during quarantine and her facial expression and big eyes represent the suffering of such time. She also enjoys drawing cartoons and learned how to draw shades and used Buzz Lightyear to apply this technique. “I was impressed because I was able to transmit the emotion of this work to the audience…My experience at UIC has been a big upgrade in my career. With the holistic education approach, I have been able to be a better human being” adds Rodriguez.
Prof. Abaya brings up how shame and low self-esteem are a limitation for self expression and drawing. The exhibition was entitled “Phases” because students overcame different phases to trick their left brain and rediscover their right brain. Prof. Abaya remarked her intention to remind the students how it was when they were children “to grab a crayon and make some art.”
Former Brazilian surgeon dentist, Business Administration UIC student, Luciano Rocha, told how Prof. Abaya taught him a technique to draw the self-portrait. He spent a long time alone at home drawing the self-portrait based on a self portrait photograph. When he completed his work and was looking for a title for it, he chose “Luciano Da Vinci.” Drawing was challenging for him and coming up with “Luciano Da Vinci” was impressive. “At the beginning of the class, I thought I was going to fail the class, and then, I realized I could make it, and I did it,” says Rocha. Prof. Abaya added that his Luciano Da Vinci looks like an Avatar. Rocha concluded that “he has so much fun in UIC and that the school is his real family.”
Orlando Landinez drew his self-portrait with chalk. He says that it was challenging but not impossible. The lesson that Prof. Abaya told the students that everything could be possible. Landinez is open to learning new techniques and he enjoys art. Landinez studied ESL, the A.S. in Communications and Mass Media and is currently completing his B.S. in Communications and Mass Media.
Maria Pineda is originally from Venezuela and is currently studying Business Administration at UIC. She picked her self portrait picture from one of her instagram pictures. She explains how after Prof. Abaya demonstrated the process to draw the self-portrait, it was easy to make it. Her mother used to draw in the past. Pineda tells how throughout the eight weeks she became confident and started ignoring her left brain.
To watch the full interviews, visit United International College YouTube Channel.
Alin Turculescu Radio Interview
Martha Rodriguez Radio Interview
Prof. Elizabeth Abaya Radio Interview
Luciano Rocha Radio Interview
Orlando Landinez Radio Interview
Maria Pineda Radio Interview