Sarah Baxter

Artist Biography

Sarah is graduating this spring of 2024 from Endicott College with a B.F.A in Interior Architecture. She has consistently been recognized for her academic achievements, earning a spot on the Dean’s list all four years, and as a member of Kappa Pi art honors society as of Spring 2023. During her time at Endicott, Sarah has not only studied abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy, but also completed her semester-long internship abroad at an architectural firm in Cork, Ireland. These international experiences have sparked her interest in travel and cultural awareness and she hopes to work and live abroad at some point in the future. Following graduation, Sarah will be attending Showa Women’s University in Tokyo, Japan where she will learn about the diverse architectural and design practices. She is currently working towards her NCIDQ license and plans to continue her career in Boston at a multidisciplinary firm. Sarah would like to thank all of her mentors, professors, family, and friends for their endless support and encouragement throughout her academic and personal endeavors.

Thesis Abstract

Sarah’s thesis project Gap Ed was inspired by the gap year she took after graduating high school. Sarah spent her gap year traveling and volunteering abroad, which sparked her love for travel, culture, and new experiences. In her research, she found that young students in the United States are making huge life decisions at such a young age, without being fully sure of their decision. With college and higher education being such a big life-changing time, students should be fully aware of the decisions they are making. Sarah’s thesis shed light on the pressing necessity for a dedicated space where young individuals can effectively prepare to achieve their future aspirations. Introducing a resource to facilitate gap years for recent high school graduates in the United States provides young individuals with the opportunity to embrace alternative educational pathways instead of immediately enrolling in a conventional 2-4 year college program. This, in turn, empowers them to explore their distinctive journeys, ultimately enhancing the prospects of making informed career decisions and increasing their chances of achieving success.