SENIOR PROFILE 2024: Lalita Bellach

Lalita Bellach chose NuVu for the different approach to creativity and innovation that she craved, one that would allow her to focus on what she wanted to—and not just on what a generic school curriculum demanded of her. “I loved my time here,” she says. “NuVu allowed me to dig deeper into different perspectives and the topics that I wanted to pursue in my own work.”

The Cambridge resident came to NuVu in 9^th grade and said that her introverted tendencies were tossed aside once she connected with its rhythm of creativity. She says that its community aspect—working with others and collaborating on projects—brought out her inner confidence which is easily seen within her senior capstone project.

With her creative interest front and center, Lalita says she was originally thinking her capstone would be a mixed media art piece or a short film, reflecting upon her high school journey, but the senior trip to Austin, Texas inspired her. “We went to a place called Wonderspaces, where they had these amazing immersive installations,” she says; “I knew this was the direction I wanted to go in.”

“I wanted to do a reflective project because I felt myself spending too much time on social media and wasting time at home after school,” she explains. “I wanted to create some sort of outlet and encourage these reflective moments for myself, and then it eventually turned into encouraging the viewer to stay in the present, follow the patterns and enjoy the moment.”

What she created was a 6.5 foot piece composed of nine panels of varying sizes, with interactive elements that she’d laser cut in the school's hands-on workshop. She elaboratively threaded the curving, puzzle-like pieces with colored string, creating a mesmerizing experience for the viewer.

Heading to MassArt this fall, Lalita says she owes that college acceptance to the creativity that has blossomed during her time at NuVu Innovation School, and we cannot wait to see where her ingenuity and creativity will take her.

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