The College of Fine Arts congratulates all students who are graduating this semester! We proudly celebrate the accomplishments of our students, like Marielis Conde Mendez, a Studio Art major and a first-generation, international college student.
Marielis Conde Mendez, School of Art
Marielis Conde Mendez photographed in Fort Worth, Texas on September 3, 2021. (Photo by Sharon Ellman)
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art
Hometown: Camagüey, Cuba
Why did you choose TCU for your education?
When I came to the U.S., I fell in love with Fort Worth. Driving by the TCU campus made me realize that I could be with my family and attend university with a higher education that will benefit me in the future.
Why did you choose to study art?
I have always had an interest in art. When I was little, I made toys out of playdoh and painted flowers and houses like an artist. As I grew up, attended grade school and obtained my high school diploma, I knew I wanted to study art. Nothing else interested me more than making artwork that made other people happy, and it especially made me the most comfortable. I became the first student in my family to attend university.
Tell us about your time at TCU.
During my time at TCU, I was able to join a sorority, the United Latinos Association and Student Support Services programs that focus on diversity at the university. Most importantly, ArtOrg helped me discover a little more about the art world and what is there for artists like me. I am also a McNair Scholar, which allowed me to explored my culture in-depth and conduct research that contributed to my final Senior BFA Thesis Exhibition, “now and back then; Cuba.”
What are your proudest accomplishments while at TCU?
My proudest accomplishment at TCU is being a first generation college student and setting a goal for the next generation in my family to do the same.
What will you miss most about TCU?
I will most miss my professors, mentors and the people who helped me in this long journey of becoming a more educated version of myself. These people made my time at TCU memorable and knowledgeable, which I will cherish and remember.
What’s next?
After graduation, I plan on taking a break from school, but that won’t stop me from finding a master’s program to attend for graduate school. But for now, I see a job in the art industry, where I can still make art on the side and potentially find other exhibitions and residencies.
Interview lightly edited for length and clarity.