Alumni Check-in: Celine Fournier (Class of 2014)

Q. Where do you live now? Why? What are you doing? 

A: I live in Kaohsiung during the week and spend my weekends with my family in Tainan. I teach Middle School Art at KAS and continue my practice as an exhibiting artist, showing my work in different galleries around Taiwan. Teaching and creating have become two parallel paths that feed each other and give my life both structure and freedom.

Q. What are the biggest differences between there and Kaohsiung? What’s the biggest similarities? 

A: I grew up in Taiwan and joined KAS in eighth grade. After graduating, I left for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I immersed myself in painting and later animation. Working as an education assistant showed me how much I enjoyed guiding other artists, which eventually led me to pursue a masters in Arts Education at the University of Cambridge.

I spent that year researching how adolescents explore identity through self portraits, often using my own image as part of the study. When the pandemic began, I returned to Taiwan and found myself teaching Middle School Art at KAS.

I also spent many summers in France while growing up, and I often reflect on the differences between Taiwan and the countries I lived in. What I appreciate most about Taiwan is the efficiency, the sense of safety, and the effortless access to good food at any hour. Being able to grab some sweet potato balls in the middle of the night or visit a doctor with minimal stress feels like a luxury I only truly understood after living abroad. 

At the same time, I sometimes miss the crisp summer air in Europe, the feeling of sunlight that does not overwhelm the skin, and the vibrant international art scenes I experienced in Chicago, New York, Paris, and London.

I miss the spontaneity of wandering into gallery openings on a Friday evening, meeting artists from different parts of the world, or studying brushstrokes up close in a museum on an ordinary weekday. When I was a student at SAIC, our painting classrooms were connected to the Art Institute of Chicago, so we would often walk into the museum during class and learn directly from the works that shaped art history.

Despite all these differences, these places share something important. Each city has given me a sense of community and belonging. Whether it was Taiwan, Chicago, Cambridge, or France, I found myself surrounded by people who cared deeply about learning, creativity, and meaningful connection.

Q. What does a typical day look like for you?

A: I usually wake up between six and seven in the morning and head to school before 7:30am. I spend the quiet part of the morning preparing materials and planning lessons before welcoming my energetic and curious middle schoolers. They keep me on my toes and remind me every day why I became an art educator.

After school ends at 3:45pm, I try to reconnect with my identity as an artist. Sometimes that means thirty minutes of painting to keep my creative energy moving. Other days, I try making a ceramic teapot. Even though teaching gives me a steady rhythm and routine, I try to find small sparks that make each day feel special. It might be exploring a new coffee shop or restaurant, trying out a new color scheme, signing up for an online language course, or waking up at five in the morning to paint in a different kind of light. These small shifts help me see the world with fresh eyes and stay connected to my sense of wonder.

Q. What's one thing you miss most about being a high school student? 

A: I miss the freedom to explore without the weight of adult responsibilities. I miss spirit week, experimenting with makeup and costumes, and collaborating with friends to make each event unforgettable. I miss studying with classmates who understood exactly what I was stressed about because they were going through the same things. We learned together, struggled together, and dreamed together.

Even though life has taken us in different directions, when I think back to high school, it is the friendships and shared moments of laughter, stress, and creativity that return to me most clearly.

Q. What's the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the "real world" that you wish you knew while you were in high school?

A: One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that growth rarely happens in a straight line. Life is not as rigid or predetermined as it seemed when I was a student. Detours, uncertainties, and unexpected opportunities often lead to the most meaningful experiences. I wish I had known that it is more than acceptable to move slowly, to change your mind, and to explore without knowing exactly where you will land. 

Q. What advice would you give to your high school self?

A: Dare to experiment and do not be afraid to make mistakes. As students, many of us become fixated on producing perfect work so that we can earn the grade we want. However, the most important learning happens through the messiness of trial and error. I tell my students the same thing now when they struggle with a new technique, whether with acrylic paint or clay. What matters is the exploration.

When I was in high school, I cared deeply about getting the colors and shading just right in my portraits. Later, in college, I realised that the real question was how to make the work more personal. How do the colors and compositions I choose reveal something about who I am? That is the journey I would encourage my younger self to embrace.

Q. Did your KAS experience prepare you for life after graduation?

A: Yes. Academically, IB prepared me for the rigor of university, especially in writing essays, discussing artworks critically, and managing my time independently. KAS also gave me discipline and a strong foundation in communication and creative thinking. These skills carried me through uni and graduate school and continue to shape the way I teach and make art today.

Q. What are you looking forward to most in the next five years?

A: When I was eighteen, someone asked me a similar question and I said I wanted to become an animator. Now, I see my path more fluidly. In the next five years, I want to move with a sense of openness. I hope to explore at least one new country each year, maybe learn a new language every other year, or apply to art residencies or international exhibitions. I want my summers and winters to be opportunities for learning, travel, and creative growth. As a teacher, I am also lucky to have time during these breaks to immerse myself in different cultures and return to Taiwan with new inspirations.