Being a new school, GCAA is full of firsts.  We’ve had the first year with high schoolers, the first year with new teachers, the first senior class, and now the first graduates, Tyler Smith and Antonio Mosely.  These two young men managed to complete all of their credits early and say goodbye to high school a semester before everyone else in their class.  When asked about how it felt to be a guinea pig of GCAA, Smith said, “it’s pretty awesome. I see myself and Antonio as pioneers for the school.  It’s an honor to be the first graduate. I was never thrilled about high school, but looking back, I had a blast.”

Now that Smith and Mosely have extra free time they are able to invest in activities that will help prepare them for their next stages in life. Mosely is continuing his work in theater as he makes progress on an original film that he will be releasing in February.  “I’m working while bettering myself. L.A.(Los Angeles) is next, I’ll be leaving in November. I am on my second interview for the Stanford Neisner Center. While I’m out there I’ll be pursuing film.” Mosely reported about what life holds next for him. Smith is training and conditioning every day for hockey.  He hopes to take a gap year and play Jr. Hockey before trying to play in college.  

Smith and Mosely both impacted GCAA, in social groups and also in the theater pathway.  They wish the best to all future graduates, especially those who will be leaving the school in 2016. Smith wants the upcoming classes to know that “it may not seem like it, but grades are important.  You gotta keep pushing.  You get out of it what you get in.” Mosely strongly emphasized that the artists at GCAA need to continue to push ourselves in whatever art we choose.  Our students need to take any opportunity we can to grow.  He quoted Mark Twain and said, “never let your schooling get in the way of your education.”  Don’t let school be the limit of what you learn.