From Guatemala to Interlochen: Maria De la Roca Covarrubias shares her story
She flew almost two thousand miles to attend high school in the US. From making new friends to starting a salsa band, here’s how this junior acting major is thriving at Interlochen Arts Academy.
Maria De la Roca Covarrubias acts in Interlochen Arts Academy's stage adaptation of Grumpy Monkey.
Many young actors have ambitions for the future, but not all of them are willing to fly nearly two thousand miles to make it happen. That’s what Maria De la Roca Covarrubias did last year, bringing the rich cultural heritage of Guatemala to Interlochen Arts Academy, where she’s pursuing her acting dreams.
De la Roca first got hooked on acting at the age of seven. Over time, she realized she wanted to take her career more seriously. After hearing about Interlochen from a friend of hers who went to Arts Camp, she decided to take Musical Theatre: Movement Techniques with Interlochen Online. She earned a certificate and had a lot of fun in the process. Soon, she began considering applying to Arts Academy—but she felt some trepidation about doing so.
“ I was unsure if I should apply or not, because Interlochen is really far away and it's a big decision,” she says. “Then something happened inside of me one day that just shifted my mind completely, and I realized I needed to take the next step.”
She applied, and was accepted. Her whole life was about to change overnight.
Finding her Interlochen family
Before she knew it, De la Roca was on a plane to Michigan and ready to dive into a brand-new life at Interlochen. She’d studied English at school in Guatemala, but actually moving to the U.S. brought some adjustments she was not prepared for.
“ I was really confused by American slang for a while,” she laughs. “I found myself constantly asking my friends, ‘What does that mean?’”
She came prepared for high school students to be cliquey and unkind to others from different backgrounds, but was soon pleasantly surprised by the kindness and enthusiasm of her fellow students.
“ People here are so nice and open. Just like in any place, you might not click with everyone, but most people here are just lovely,” she says. “Right away, they made me feel so welcome and part of a family, even though we barely knew each other. Slowly finding my Interlochen family has been a beautiful experience.”
De la Roca has enjoyed many opportunities to share her culture with the student body. She performed music for meetings of the Latin Student Union, and she recently started a salsa band with several other Latino students. They collaborated with a mutual friend to organize a night of salsa music and dance instruction for the student body.
“I really like being in a place that's not my home culture,” says De la Roca. “It makes me that much prouder about my heritage, and that much more ready to explore it and showcase who I am and where I'm from.”
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows; De la Roca deeply misses her parents and younger brother. She also misses the climate of Guatemala and the big-city life she left behind. However, encouragement from fellow students has helped her feel at home.
“ People here are so invested into learning and growing. When they're not familiar with someone's culture, they're in such awe and fascination with the unknown. My friends love asking me questions about the Spanish language and Guatemala and what I like and miss.”
Plus, she’s had great support from her teachers, both academic and artistic.
“It’s a community where everyone wants you to thrive, and you want others to thrive too. The teachers really want to get to know different students. And they really encourage you to put your cultural heritage into your art.”
“I’ve rediscovered myself”
Now in the spring of her junior year, De la Roca can see immense changes in herself from her time spent at Arts Academy.
“ I’ve changed completely as a person for the better,” she says. “I was strong but shy when I first came here, and now I’ve rediscovered myself—I’ve learned so much about myself and gained so much power and voice and confidence. I’m honestly thriving.”
After Interlochen, she wants to continue pursuing acting, whether that’s through film, theatre, or something else.
“Going to Julliard has always been one of my main dreams, but I'm a believer that wherever I need to be, I will be,” she says.
Dream big and make it happen. It’s not just about dreaming—you have to fight for your dreams.
When asked what her advice would be to an international student considering Interlochen, she says that coming to Arts Academy can take courage, but it’s ultimately so worth it.
“If it's fear that’s holding you back, you have to defeat it,” she says. “Those limits don’t exist. Interlochen offers great scholarships and they really want all their students to have a great education in their art form. You have to keep pushing forward.”
De la Roca’s courage has paid off so far. For her, the Arts Academy experience is just the beginning of a life of bold vision and continued artistry.
“Dream big and make it happen,” she urges. “It’s not just about dreaming—you have to fight for your dreams.”
16% of Arts Academy students are international students. Learn more about becoming an international student at Arts Academy.
