![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/img4047bf71c8379aa7487b8ef64c4cd2501ffe.webp)
Hobbies and interests
Crocheting
Reading
Printmaking
Collaging
Sewing
Theater
Government
Gender Studies
Art History
History
Advocacy And Activism
Music
Art
Crafting
Embroidery And Cross Stitching
Mythology
Politics and Political Science
Social Justice
Reading
Academic
Art
Classics
Design
Fantasy
Historical
Horror
Humor
Literature
Realistic Fiction
I read books daily
Nex Hagen
775
Bold Points1x
Finalist![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/img4047bf71c8379aa7487b8ef64c4cd2501ffe.webp)
Nex Hagen
775
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
Above all else, I am passionate about education. Education in academia is important, but it is my life goal to be able to provide societal education to all that seek it. That is why I am studying Art History; I want to provide easy-to-access education through the lens of art. I also believe art has the ability to help people learn more about themselves personally and about humanity as a whole. I believe that history, when viewed from a lens of art instead of just timelines of events, is a rich and complex reflection of our society today. It is my goal to understand that society, and change it for the better.
Besides my academic passions, I am heavily involved in my high school's theater department, and have costumed productions for the last three years. I have more recently directed a successful production of "Anne of Green Gables" alongside two other student directors. I have also started acting, with the supporting role of Chiron in our recent production of "The Lightning Thief."
My artistic and academic interests crescendo in my practice of zine making, where I collage found materials together with information to make little booklets that I distribute and trade in the zine community. I also practice crocheting, sewing and printmaking.
When I am not otherwise engaged, I work at a vintage clothing and vinyl store as well as a used book shop.
Education
Skidmore College
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Visual and Performing Arts, Other
- History
Sussex Academy
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- History
- Fine and Studio Arts
Career
Dream career field:
Arts
Dream career goals:
Museum Curator
Library Aide
Sussex Academy Library2023 – 20241 yearSales Associate
JoyWorks, LLC.2020 – Present4 years
Research
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
University of Delaware — Student - Dual Enrollment Program2022 – 2024
Arts
Sussex Academy
Visual ArtsPrintmaking, Drawing, Painting & Collage, Sculpture & 3D Design, Fiber Arts2023 – 2024Sussex Academy Performing Arts
TheatreAnne of Green Gables2023 – 2024Sussex Academy Performing Arts
TheatreCarrie: The Musical, The Lightning Thief, Anne of Green Gables, Marry Poppins Jr., God's Favorite2023 – 2024Sussex Academy Performing Arts
TheatreThe Addams Family, Clue: On Stage, Noises Off, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Mamma Mia, The Wedding Singer, Matilda Jr.2020 – 2023Sussex Academy Performing Arts
ActingThe Lightning Thief2024 – 2024
Public services
Volunteering
World Language Honors Society — Historian2021 – 2024Public Service (Politics)
YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs — Delegate2024 – 2024Volunteering
Lasagna Love — Cook2021 – PresentVolunteering
Clearspace Theater — Usher2023 – PresentPublic Service (Politics)
Delaware YMCA Youth in Government — Delegate & Youth Delegation Leader2023 – 2024
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Joseph C. Lowe Memorial Scholarship
From the hidden stories of historical sites to the untold tales of my local community, my passion for history runs deep, driving me to uncover and share the fascinating narratives that have shaped our world. Growing up, I attended summer camps at my local state park with environmentally-focused programs; however, the part of the park I truly fell in love with was Fort Miles. The WWII base used to span the entire park, evident now only by the sand-colored watchtowers littering the horizon and old brick and concrete sticking out of the sand. The fort is a small part of the park with preserved guns, mess halls, and an underground battery that recently became a museum. I had the privilege of watching the preservation of the monuments surrounding me take place in real time. When I first entered the underground Battery 519 as a camper, we played Manhunt in the empty rooms, but now those rooms are filled with artifacts from the community and historians. Standing in Battery 519, surrounded by the history that shaped the ground I stood on, I felt at home.
As I evolved with the world around me, I realized that history was much more complicated than I had initially accepted. There was so much I was missing in my education. I wanted to know more than what I was retaining; I wanted to learn about the Native Americans who cultivated land long before English settlers, about the artists who created masterpieces standing the test of time, and about the everyday people who lived during the times of the historical figures I knew well. So, I started to seek out those stories. My local historical society taught me about the people who had walked my streets ahead of me. In the graveyard, I dug up the stories of the people buried at my feet. From their small publications, I found the name of the cat who likes to knock over books at my job. These historic personal stories, with modern personal connections, were much more impactful and, to me, more valuable than the general history I learned in school. My newfound knowledge made me feel that every step I took along the street was purposeful. I feel connected with the people who came before me; their stories sit within me as I pave my way through an ever-changing world.
Inspired by the people telling the stories of the past at my local historical society and the Fort Miles museum, my life goal is to tell the untold stories of the people who shaped our communities and society. As a future museum curator, I hope to do this through the medium of objects. Objects like Battery 519 are a tangible way for people to approach history. Objects engage your mind more creatively than just information absorption; they create multiple connections to the story told through the object. Objects create an impression of the information they represent. A coat with meticulous embroidery and hand-stitching represents the craftsmanship of tailors in a way that a sentence could never convey on its own. History needs objects to create an impression that shapes the way the public interacts with the world and the history that surrounds them. I am determined to become a museum curator by using the medium of objects to bring history to life, creating connections and consciousness, and continuing to preserve our rich and diverse untold history for future generations.