Building Abroad, Becoming Within: FAMU Senior Blends Architecture and Dance in France
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – When Florida A&M University (FAMU) senior Ambar Collazo steps into her dream architecture school in France this fall, she won’t just be studying abroad—she’ll be representing every student who’s ever felt stuck between two cultures, clouded by self-doubt, or unsure of where they belong.
Born and raised in Mexico, Collazo is preparing to study abroad for 10 months at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Nantes translation Nantes National School of Architecture. This opportunity was possible thanks to the support of her professors and study abroad staff in the School of Architecture.
“I’ve always felt like I was living between two worlds,” she said. “I couldn’t fully connect with everything in Mexico because I’ve been in America for so long. But I can’t fully relate to America either. For some reason, France feels like the missing piece—a place where I can finally find myself.”
Collazo’s original plan was not originally architecture. She initially considered fine arts until a last-minute switch led her down a different creative path.
“I knew I wanted to study something that involved design,” she said. “Architecture was a leap, but it felt right—and FAMU was always where I felt most comfortable.”
After attending high school in Tallahassee, including a pivotal year at Rickards High School, she says FAMU felt like a natural next step.
“It felt familiar,” she said. “Like a place I could grow.”
The School of Architecture became her academic home. Though small in size, the program’s tight-knit nature helped Collazo find her footing.
“Everybody knows everybody,” she said. “The professors know your name. They check in. You can go to anyone for help. It’s more than school—it’s a community.”
Senior Ambar Collazo considered FAMU an obvious choice for continuing her education
after high school. Now, she is headed to France this fall. (Photo special to FAMU)
That support was essential as Collazo navigated a rigorous workload while reigniting an old passion: dance. Though she hadn’t performed in years, she auditioned for FAMU’s Mahogany Dance Theatre and was accepted.
“I wasn’t at a company level anymore,” she admitted. “But I missed it. Mahogany was my last shot.”
Her first semester was difficult. She felt behind and unsure of herself, but the people around her never stopped pushing her to improve and believe in herself.
“By the fall, my coaches told me, ‘Ambar, you’ve gotten so much better.’ That meant everything. Mahogany helped me find my confidence again—not just on stage, but as a person,” she said.
That same confidence pushed her into studying abroad. She came across a featured program in architecture that would allow her to pay FAMU tuition while studying overseas.
Still, Collazo was concerned about how she would afford nearly a year abroad. Then the university in France offered her a scholarship that covered her housing and living expenses.
“That’s when I knew it was real,” she said. “It all started falling into place.”
Not one to settle, Collazo also applied to join a French dance company in the same city. She researched in French, translated everything she needed, applied and landed an interview. Once again, things aligned—the company allowed her to interview in Spanish, and after submitting a Mahogany performance video, she was accepted as an advanced-level dancer.
FAMU's dance performance troupe Mahogany helped Ambar Collazo find her rhythm and
her way to France. (Photo special to FAMU)
“They told me when I’d start, and I was like—oh shoot, this is real,” she said. “It felt surreal.”
Now, she's preparing to move across the world to pursue her passions, and maybe to find something even greater—herself.
“This trip symbolizes me overcoming myself. It’s about becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be. I’m not chasing a job. A career—you can have it anywhere. I could have a career in America. I could have a career in Mexico,” she said. “The way I view it, money comes and goes—but often, you make money and still don't know yourself. I'm more interested in finding purpose, because I know you can make money anywhere.”
To students dreaming of global opportunities, or even just trying to find their place at FAMU, Collazo says community is key.
“College can feel isolating, but the people you meet matter,” she said. “When you stay connected, your community will show up for you. That’s how you grow. That’s how doors open.”
As she heads into this next chapter, one thing is clear: Collazo isn’t just building a future—she’s discovering a life and identity of her own.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
