In an era where specialization is considered a superpower, a select group of individuals challenge this norm by incorporating seemingly diverse passions into a cohesive academic experience. “Renaissance” students don’t simply explore different passions; they create something new at the intersections. But what drives the pursuit of this multidisciplinary mastery? And more importantly, what can the rest of us learn from it?

Partaking in the balancing act of versatility requires a commitment to discipline. For Ella Harrison, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, it would be nearly impossible to maintain all of her commitments without using proper time management and order.

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“I go to ROTC in the morning, and my job at night is for the athletics department,” Harrison said. “I get all my homework done throughout the week and whenever I can over the weekend to balance everything out.”

As a student on the pre-medical track, her course load already includes a plethora of ancillary work and studying; her involvement in ROTC, a campus job and social commitments make her days even busier. However, Harrison still emphasizes the importance of knowing your limitations.

“Don’t put too much on your plate. For me, I have a job at ROTC and I’m pre-med, but I’m going to join clubs after waiting to see how much I can handle,” Harrison said. “Being overwhelmed is not going to help you at all because you’ll just get stressed out and you won’t be able to put your best foot forward for the other things you’ve already committed to.”

Finding the right balance between all of your commitments can be challenging — that’s why prioritization serves as an essential tool for Harrison.

“[I’ve always] prioritized school, so it’s hard to make it to every PT session for ROTC, but school is always definitely priority number one, and then I just have to make sure to get all my work done before my other commitments,” Harrison said.

A majority of renaissance students developed interdisciplinary roots throughout their adolescence which have translated into their college experiences.

“I did a lot of this in high school too — so going into it for college wasn’t completely different,” she said. “I did cross country and track, so that swapped out with ROTC. And I’ve always wanted to be some sort of doctor, so the military and army was a really good path to get me into that. That’s what motivated me.”

For Iovine and Young Academy students Anika Mantripragada, Saniya Patel and Nitya Peumans, an interest in a variety of fields served as strong motivation to find an intersection that satisfied their enthusiasm for widespread learning.

“I knew I wanted to do business and design, but didn’t want to double major or minor. The Academy allowed me to pursue all of my interests without compromise,” Mantripragada said.

Many students enter college on a defined path in the form of one specific major or track — a norm that can scare students away from pursuing a more open-ended program.

“When I got here and I told people about my major, a lot of them were like, ‘I was going to apply. But then it looked really hard to get in,’” Patel said.

To complement these students’ diverse interests, IYA’s curriculum follows a less calculated path and allows students to chart their own course.

“It gives you an edge in certain senses, but you have to be very careful what you pair it with,” Peumans said. “Without any kind of technical experience or expertise, it’s hard to just float into this kind of program because, in the interest of breadth, we sacrifice a lot of depth.”

Nevertheless, the unique and interdisciplinary curriculum of IYA can serve as a catalyst for innovative and original thinking.

“I come at problems with a point of view of a designer, while [my brother] looks at it with the point of view of a software engineer,” Mantripragada said. “So we’re going to have different opinions and different approaches, and that can be really really helpful.”

A large portion of becoming a renaissance student is providing yourself a platform where your various interests can be worked and further developed. For Harrison, it’s the medical experience that the ROTC program gives her.

“With ROTC, I’m able to get medical-focused training, in learning first aid and applying it in the field, which complements what I’m studying in biochemistry,” Harrison said.

On the other hand, for Mantripragada, Patel and Peumans, it’s the resources and community of Iovine and Young.

“There was a lot of effort initially to be good at everything, but over time, you realize not everyone is good at everything. We use each other,” Patel said.

A common misconception that arises about renaissance students is that their involvement in various endeavors is a sign of their uncertainty. In actuality, it signifies the exact opposite.

“I’ve always had an interest in healthcare and technology, but then I also had a lot of interest in art on the side. And I wanted to see how I could use the skills I learned in the humanities and the arts to supplement my work in technology,” Mantripragada said.

Renaissance students aren’t dabbling aimlessly — they are crafting a well-rounded skill set that feeds into their ultimate goal. Choosing to balance their various interests rather than sacrificing them underscores the determination and tenacity of these students.

“If you let go of what you care about just to do something that might make it easier for you to get in somewhere, in the long run, it’s not going to make you happy,” Patel said.