Texas Showcase -- Iris Camille Claudio

What brought you to the University of Texas for graduate school?

A plane? Joke. Probably, part reason and part destiny. An adviser at Syracuse University, where I was planning to study advertising as an undergrad, was the one that originally introduced me to the UT's advertising graduate department and their creative program. I was really excited to be part of the creative program at Syracuse, but for financial reasons I ended up rejecting the acceptance into the school so, I started to consider UT for grad school. Given that I hadn't even officially graduated high school, my research drifted away quite quickly. So, I decided to stay in Puerto Rico and obtain a bachelors' degree in Marketing. Since then my new plan was to pursue a graduate degree in advertising. I always had UT in the back of my mind and when a close friend visited Austin for the first time, I was even more impressed by what she told me about the city. There was no doubt this place was starting to look very attractive. Therefore, UT was the first grad school I applied for. I also applied to BU and Academy of Arts in San Francisco, just in case I didn't get into UT, but I wasn't very interested (too cold and too expensive). As I continued to do research on UT, my anticipation continued to grow. Lets say I was more than happy when my acceptance letter came in. And, I guess, the rest is history.

Can you tell us about your background and where you are from?

I am from Puerto Rico, born and raised. Here are five fun facts about my background:

-I always have trouble with my ID.

-When I've been abroad people always respond the following way: "Puerto Rico! Ricky Martin! Aiaiaiai!"

-I only watch The Flintstones and Full House in Spanish.

-I didn't take classes with guys until college because I went to an "all-girls" school.

-The first time I was in snow was this past February when it snowed in Austin.

Can you tell us about some of your experiences here (and abroad)?

I studied abroad in '06 for a semester in Argentina and then again over this past summer in the Czech Republic. I've always been really independent and really interested in exploring the world so since I was young I've tried to have as much experiences abroad as possible. To me, it's been an opportunity to expand my horizons, see new places, meet different people, and absorb another culture. I love learning about the history of places and experiencing the way other people interact and behave. Still, it,s a challenge to live so far away, you end up in a place that's completely outside anything you know (different language, way of life, customs) and it's intimidating, but working through that is part of the point of living and studying abroad.

What are you focusing on in your studies?

I am focusing on the creative program here in UT, taking portfolio classes and complementary courses. Specifically, I want to be able to call myself an art director (or at least, art-director-in-training) when I graduate. I would say that photography is my other "unofficial" area of focus, I have taken a couple of classes at UT and I intern as a photographer for The Alcalde (the Texas Exes alumni publication).

What has been your favorite class?

Easy, the photojournalism class I took over the summer in the Czech Republic. The work consisted of going around Prague taking pictures.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to do a lot of things. Career wise, I want to work as an art director in an ad agency, but I also want to work as a photographer for a publication or as a freelancer. I'll probably stay here in Austin for a few more years, although I want to go back to Europe or South America to live and work there for a couple of years. I met the people who gave the ghost tours in Prague, maybe they'll give me a job.

What advice can you give to other people considering the program?

Do everything and whatever you want. Now is the chance to experience everything you've ever wanted, in a positive way, of course. Go out there and be fearless.

What's your favorite quote?

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn" by Benjamin Franklin.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about?

If I wasn't doing this, I would like to be a cake decorator. Also, I can only sing the ToysR'Us kids song in Spanish: "Yo no quiero ser grande, soy un nino ToysR'Us!"