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| This is a woodblock print I made. I think this print might be the best thing I’ve made at design school. I love it. |
I was really busy this semester. Some of that was school, some of that was me, whatever. What’s important is that it’s over, and it’s summer now. Summer, for me, means that I have time to do what I want, time to focus on my projects.
What am I doing?
I’m writing. I’m reading. I’m trying stuff.
I’m working on a novel (it’s been going for a while. Slow going.) and working on a collection of short stories. I have no idea if I’m ever going to finish the novel, but I’m hoping that I can have something of the short story collection done by the end of June, then edit the blerg out of it in July (and probably August, if we’re being honest) and then publish it. It’ll be an ebook, pay as you wish sort of thing.
I’m reading a lot of books. I love reading, and while I’m in school, I have very little time to read. I have a whole bunch of books from the Kendall library (design stuff, mostly) and a bunch of novels that I’ve been meaning to read.
I’m trying stuff. 365graphic is about trying stuff. I’m doing Codecademy too, which is about trying stuff. Both are a bit of a gear switch from writing, which is nice.
How is all of this related to education?
To me, education is about inspiring curiosity. It’s about searching for new experiences, and it’s about making things. In my formal education, I feel like I’ve lost that. Now, I’m trying to find it.
There’s something else too. Some people might call it “passion” but I’m sort of uncomfortable with the term. I feel like it’s more about drive. No one else can make you want whatever thing it is that you’re going after, and some people don’t seem to want anything. You know who they are. They’re the ones who are phoning it in, on everything, all the time. They worry you a little bit. You don’t want to end up like them.
For people who are interested in doing stuff, the first step is just to do it*. If you want to make movies, then just stop talking about it and do it. The barriers to entry have gotten lower or nonexistent – you can make your weird artsy short film with your phone. You can make radio with your computer. You can bootleg a copy of photoshop and start trying your digital art.
Just fucking do it already. That’s what I’m trying to do right now.
An important part of education is connection – connecting yourself to resources, and to others who are interested in things. If you’re someone who’s interested in things, let’s get in touch. Even if you’re interested in doing things that are totally different from the things that I’m interested in doing. I think we might be able to learn from each other.
Oh yeah, my posts are up on the Kendall Blog. Read it?
*UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE A SURGEON. If you want to be a surgeon, just starting to cut people open is a really bad idea. You should go to school or something first. If you want to be a suregon, maybe reading a book about it or interviewing a suregon is a better first step.
Comments
Hi Samantha!
I felt compelled to comment and say HI and like…go girl!! You're so right about education, that it's an active, engaging, connective process of self-discovery and reaching out to others. I was really impressed by your 365graphic site and this one 🙂
like you i'm always working hard on something, and trying to learn more about *all the things*! for me it's music, web design, generative art, playing guitar, yoga, appreciating nature, eating healthy and being a good friend/girlfriend/sister/daughter/niece/cousin.. all are sooo time-consuming and just.. difficult!
but its super satisfying, and i have days where i wonder: should i give one of these things up? i feel totally amateur at all of them!
but knowing that there's so much more to learn is what keeps me going, because everytime i learn and understand something new im also struck with some of that juicy inspiration that i crave!
so i wish you a tonne of good luck in your journey. formal education was one of the scariest, most oppressive experiences of my life (school + uni in england) and i feel like im 'unlearning' so much of what i took for granted now that im out (six months and counting!)
you're clearly an inspired and inspiring person so keep doing you! good luck with your writing, hopefully one day ill get to read one of your stories! 🙂
peace out sis
I think it's okay to be amateur at a lot of things – there's a concept that gets talked about a lot at my school of "t-shaped people" which means that they know a little bit about a lot of things, and a whole lot about one thing, sort of a combination of a generalist and a specialist. I think that's a good thing to strive towards.
It's good to hear that I'm not the only one who struggled with formal education – I think it just wasn't right for me.
Thanks for your encouragement, Nia! If all goes as planned, you should be able to read a collection of my stories in a couple months!