Brianna Valcourt

A photo of Brianna Valcourt
Brianna ValcourtGraduate Program Ambassador: Architecture

Contact Information

bvalcourt123@g.rwu.edu

Hometown:

Cumberland, Rhode Island

What I was doing before RWU: 

I studied my undergraduate in Architecture at RWU for four years. I lived on campus for two and a half years where I lived in three different student dormitory buildings. During the sixth semester of my undergrad, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Every semester deepened my interest for the architectural field of study, bringing me to my senior year where I experienced a year of distance learning, which brought forward some learning challenges. During remote learning, I had to adjust my learning style and tune into what would be a new practice of learning more independently as well as receiving lessons through a screen. A takeaway from the pandemic, right before entering the graduate program, is that I had a new appreciation for the professional tools and environments supplied by the University such as the library and working alongside professors.

My future plans:

I do not confine my future to one dream job, but rather I have interest in making a mark through my work. I enjoy making an impact on small communities. I currently enjoy the benefit I provide to students as a dance teacher and similarly I could imagine myself in the future giving back to students, teaching in the field of architecture at a University. I can foresee myself finding my way back into a University through teaching, but before that I plan on finding a voice in community discussions in Rhode Island. My interests include planning and architecture, which are two separate but interconnected fields. I have interest in dividing my time over the next several years to gain experience in both workplaces. My plan is to find ways to organize, design, and plan to strengthen the wellness in cities. My future goals include working with Professor Adams to organize historical housing maps for Providence, develop a Tree Cover Plan for in my hometown in RI, make an impact with my thesis work on wellness, and to establish a NOMA student chapter for minority students at RWU.

My favorite parts of my student experience at RWU: 

My favorite experience at RWU is the well-maintained campus, which might sound pretty cliché coming from the M.Arch major. But as a person who commutes an hour driving to the campus, I highly appreciate the scenery upon arrival. The campus is not cramped with too many people or too many buildings, and it is big without being massive. Being located near a bay of water adds to the quality of the air and to the beauty of the views. With a walk approximately fifteen minutes between each far end, the campus offers a bunch of different scenic sitting areas located along the paths leading to each building. The way you are bound to walk past someone you know is a benefit of the campus size, making RWU like a network in itself. The personal connectivity between students and staff makes for a comfortable and warm student experience.

Best advice for students planning to go to graduate school: 

My advice for students planning to go to graduate school is to find your own momentum. There is no script for how you will get your work done and meet all of your expectations. Do not allow the opinions and doubts, of anyone, to add weight on your shoulders before you start walking. You have to start walking and take on the weight of graduate school as it comes, and you will only take on what you can carry. And to assure yourself that you never drop the weight, you will have to find that balance of completion and removal, allowing yourself to find the momentum for you and your load. The most important takeaway is that the only person who knows the weight of the load is you, therefore as the manager of your time and strength, find the balance for you, in everything you do.

Favorite things to do in the area: 

I enjoy spending time in Bristol where there is an open field, walking by the boat docks, or through the unique downtown area with small businesses and shops. I find it enjoyable to eat at restaurants in Bristol that are not chain restaurants, because I enjoy new food experiences. Baba Sushi and Casa Margaritas are two favorite spots. Within the past year, there have been a couple new openings such as a brewery named Pivotal, where you can bring your own food! Aside from food, I had a good time at the Bristol Art Museum last year where there was a lot of art featured by students from RWU. Being so close to the water, it is worth it to make your way to a beach. There are a variety of beaches within twenty minutes of the campus and also some farther, but still in-state.