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The VAPAE Program at UCLA offers a three-quarter teaching sequence unlike anything else. Staying with the same cohort for all three quarters of the Arts Education Teaching Sequence creates an unusually close-knit learning environment, one that most UCLA classes, with their single-quarter format, simply don’t allow. Moving through the sequence together, conversations don’t end when a quarter does. Students are able to build on shared experiences, return to ongoing ideas, and watch one another grow as artists and educators. Over time, the familiarity of seeing the same faces each week helps break through the formalities that often shape large university classes, allowing relationships to deepen naturally.
As a member of the Spring 2025 cohort, taught by VAPAE lecturer Joannza Lo and TA Andrew Child, I can attest to its continued tight-knit nature. I am still amazed at the friendships that formed within this cohort. They were not just casual connections made in passing; they became the foundation of a genuine community.
Enrique Rodriguez-Gonzalez ‘26 (Herb Alpert School of Music) said, “I never expected to make friendships outside of the classroom when enrolling in this class, but I really did. At the end of the sequence, I was sad to see everyone go, but majority of us enrolled in other Arts Education classes to be together for another quarter.”
We learned from each other’s teaching styles, collaborated on creative projects, and supported one another through the challenges of lesson planning, practicum work, and the often-vulnerable process of developing our artistic identities. These repeated interactions made us comfortable enough to give honest feedback, share personal stories, and celebrate one another’s achievements. Even after the sequence ended, we continued taking VAPAE classes together, which has kept those bonds strong and meaningful.
Kasey Agosto (School of the Arts and Architecture) ‘27 stated, “VAPAE is unlike any class I have taken at UCLA and the people I met are each so unique. I’m an art student, and meeting people from different departments is such a privilege.”
Being part of a multi-quarter cohort in VAPAE truly feels like a privilege within the UCLA experience. It offers stability, belonging, and continuity in an academic environment that is usually fast-paced and constantly changing. Not many departments or academic programs offer the chance to grow alongside the same group of students for nearly a full year, and the sense of community that came out of it has shaped both my education and my friendships in lasting ways. The shared journey connected us not only as classmates, but as collaborators and friends.
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