For my first Enrichment Program assignment, I decided to head to The Met on Fifth Avenue. At such an early point in the first semester of the year, clubs are not holding as many events and I am not familiar enough with the school to approach career workshops, so the museum seemed the easiest route to complete my first assignment.

Having never been to a museum before, the experience was really educational and eye-opening to me.  I managed to see for the first time how accurately certain historical elements have been portrayed in mainstream media. In regards to art, from the mythological figures and religious art of the ancient eras to the Impressionism of the 19th-century, I noticed the evolution in what artists chose to depict and it enabled me to peek into the society and culture of their time through a historical lens . I also gained admiration for the distinctive styles of art used in different times; I walked from one gallery to the next, contrasting the different forms of art, such as the Greek vase paintings to the European oil paintings. Apart from what was depicted in the art itself, the descriptions of each piece of art allowed me to better understand the context of the respective time periods they were crafted in, which made me appreciate the art and the history behind it more. Besides general works of art, however, I was also greeted with displays of  artifacts in every gallery I entered. Again, it was surreal to observe how intricately most of these artifacts were crafted with beautifully engraved details, from the Greek/Roman sculptures and bone carvings, to the coffins of the Egyptian Pharaohs, and just like the works of art, it was amazing to compare the different styles incorporated into the craftsmanship of these artifacts.  I’m grateful that FYS pushed me to have this experience.