Photo credit: Ally OBoyle

Fairy lights glow in Maya Acutt and Alicia Flores’s dorm room at Tulane University with an Archer Film Festival poster hanging on the wall. The roommates begins their first year of college after graduating Archer in the class of 2025.

From the hustle and bustle of move-in day to the first college class, the transition from Archer to a college environment can be overwhelming for some. However, one of the most exciting adjustments is living in a dorm, 2025 alumna Maya Acutt said.

Class of 2025 alumnae Maya Acutt and Alicia Flores decided to make that adjustment together. While many college students room with new people, Flores and Acutt chose to continue their journey side by side. By dorming together at Tulane University, they hoped the transition would feel smoother.

For Acutt, starting college felt less daunting thanks to the support she carried with her from her years at Archer.

“Archer really encourages kindness,” Acutt said. “A lot of my friends at Archer are very kind people, or very social who make very strong connections, which definitely helps in college.”

Sophomore Savvy Acutt, Maya Acutt’s younger sister, helped her move into Tulane. With the Acutts’ grandparents living in New Orleans, she hoped their presence would help Maya feel more comfortable and at home in the city. Still, the move in was bittersweet. 

“I got to see a really good snapshot of what college looks like, but it was also really sad seeing her move into a completely new place after living with her for the past 15 years,” Savvy Acutt said. “It was very new. Everything felt unknown.”

In addition to family, having a familiar face from high school can ease the transition to college. Savvy Acutt said shared memories and friends made an unfamiliar environment feel more comfortable for her sister.

“They both moved in from the same place, and the same [community],” Savvy Acutt said. “It’s the same length away from family, which unites them for sure.”

Flores shared a similar appreciation for having a roommate from Archer, saying their shared habits and familiarity made the transition more comfortable. 

“Rooming with someone from Archer was the best decision of my life. I feel so much more comfortable,” Flores said. “It’s really nice when their living habits are compatible with yours.”

Beyond social connections, Maya Acutt also found that Archer’s curriculum gave her confidence when faced with her first college assignments and course load.  

“A lot of the stuff they expect us to know how to do, I already know how to do. One of my classes is taking us through the steps of writing a research paper,” Maya Acutt said. “I’ve done six already [At Archer].” 

For both Maya Acutt and Flores, the connections formed at Archer have lasted well beyond graduation. Maya said those bonds are ones she continues to cherish.

“Archer has definitely taught me how to make strong connections and be open to new and different people,” Maya Acutt said. “It is one of the most important things Archer teaches you.”