Post college realization

I realized something interesting the other day after interviewing this kid that I was quite impressed by. I looked at his resume and college coursework and realized something fascinating probably only to me and co-worker whom I chatted with. This young kid had taken pretty much the same courses I had, only he received an Interaction Design Major. Now, I was in college in the mid nineties (92-97 ish) before there was any sort of interaction major, it was just coming on to the radar, and I was in an art school. Savannah College of Art and Design, which was, and as far as I can tell still continues to be really a pretty progressive learning environment. I received a BFA in Graphic Design and took 5 1/2 yrs to finish it. Many people have scoffed at this, however, it was due to the fact that I wanted to work more on the internet when I graduated versus print. I felt more of a freedom there, more in sync with that side of my courses. Print majors were the only ones officially available at the time and I had enjoyed computers and Dos programming as a kid. I loved the scientific, left side of my brain just as much as my right side. So I proceeded, much to my parents dismay at the time, cuz they weren't quite sure what in the heck I was doing, to take classes in the animation major... 2 classes of programming, an html, css and related technologies (flash) class my senior year, and a few animation classes like tradiditonal animation and 2D. I however ended up dumping the animation major. Taking hours upon hours to render something just didn't appeal to me and I watched the others struggle through hours and hours of long work in the lab. So I finished with BFA in Graphic Design.

What I didn't realize until the other day was, I had taken the interaction design course, before it existed! I was really thrilled with this since even at the time, my school couldn't figure out what the heck I was doing and I got PLENTY of flack for being unfocused. I was assumed to be a kid wandering around majors struggling with growing up, when in reality I just hadn't verbalized my thought process to people who mattered. And, as an adult now, I realize they never asked the right questions to find out what I was thinking, gee thanks! However hindsight is 20/20 and it wasn't their fault. I was just a different kid, pushing myself where I wanted to go. I didn't really need anyone to validate me, which is a strength now that I see in younger adults that I tend to admire. Those are the kids that go places, the kids who always survive. So cheers to you for being "difficult," you just don't know where you'll end up, but keep plugging and do what you love. I completely love what I do and wouldn't trade the process of how I got here for the world. I learned invaluable things along the way and settled on something I truly love to do in my soul. My art degree has helped me immensly. Their traditional style of learning the basics and using the computer as a tool is an asset I haven't always seen in many a designer. So paint, sculpt, animate, program and tinker around. In the long run all you learn helps you in one way or another you just have to put the puzzle pieces together. After all at 18 you're only 18, and at 32 you still feel 18 ;) so wing it!

So that was my revelation, which I feel pretty doggone proud of now looking back. Even better was talking to my dad about it, who consistently has been a very very proud dad. Seeing my sites, answering my random opinion questions, telling people about my new endeavors, bragging about my next position and wearing the latest attire from the company I am at. Which if you're in this business you know means bah, nothing. None-the-less, the money they spent to better my life paid off and I'm extrmely thankful they put up with me, I have a successful job, working in a great company and previous ones as well. :)
Ah yes, a perfect example of random chatterings of the day. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I am on to a flash storyboard.