Don't mean nothin'

For the better part of my...

No.

For my ENTIRE 20's, I was in college.

I worked full time for the company in which I am still employed* and went to the local University to earn my prize!! My degree in Art Studio.

Oh, I didn't always know I wanted to be an artist. My first degree path was Math. Yes. I am a geek. I love Math. There are infinite things to learn, but once you learn them, they don't change. It's awesome. Then, when I had only 4 classes remaining in the path, I decided programming was the better avenue for my future. So, I registered for the C++ programming class. It was a 200 level course, and I felt like I would be able to successfully complete that course. No problem. Right?

WRONG! See... Prior to that class, I had only dabbled in any kind of programming. I knew (and still only know) just enough to get me in trouble. I should have known that class/degree path wasn't right for me because my Great-grandmother's funeral was on the first day of class. The funeral was held 2 states over and if I missed the first day of this particular class, the University would have systematically dropped me from the course. My unbelievably caring and giving husband offered to fly me there and back. He worked the night shift that "day", flew me to my Great-grandmother's funeral and back, and then went back to work that night. I'm still not able to accurately articulate how much that really meant to me. Unfortunately, all the thoughtfulness and sacrificing he gave couldn't get me a passing grade. I dropped the course with a WF (Withdraw Failing) and a grade of 23%. Horrid.

So, I had a "come to Jesus" meeting with myself and realized I LOVE to learn and master software programs, and I am pretty good at taking pictures, so what better degree path than Art Studio: Graphic Design and Photography? No better. That's what I thought, too. :) So I declared my major and registered for the first available design and photography classes.

I was in love... I was meant to be in the photo classes. I enjoyed the darkroom far more than any normal person should. The smell is unforgettable and my eyes never seemed to take too long to adjust to the amber (safe) light. The systematic and methodical process of developing film and printing complimented my OCD tendencies. I knew exactly how long it would take me to complete everything and still have time to experiment with some burning, dodging, filters, etc... I enjoyed the design classes as well. But the main reason for adding graphic design was an effort to market myself, both, to prospective employers and my own photography business.

After 10 long, hard, unforgiving years... I finally graduated on 2006. The first in my family (paternal linage) to obtain a post secondary degree. My mother didn't graduate high school; she eventually obtained her GED. My dad is, in my opinion, brilliant with OCD tendencies. He calls them idiosyncracies, but let's just keep it real. Shall we?? But even still he only took a few college courses, and at the age of 55, still hasn't finished.

So, I've mentioned before about my own photography business. I can't afford (and never have been able to afford) to market myself. So, by advertising via word of mouth, my website and some social networking sites I was hired to shoot 10+ weddings from August 2004 to December 2006. Since December 2006 (when I found out I was pregnant), I have assisted in 10 more weddings. Sounds pretty successful, huh? I mean... considering I still worked 40 hours each week, I now have a child in addition to a husband. In fact, I am assisting with a wedding this weekend for the studio that has been courting me to join their creative team. (And I will, just as soon as they can pay me at least my current annual salary.) So, in the mean time, I freelance at "a hefty price." (Her words, not mine.)

Well, I was having a round table meeting with the studio owner/lead photographer for the wedding tomorrow as well as the #3 photographer on the job. The #3 photog is a marketing dude with some years of experience in photography, just not in weddings. I've been told he wants to get into that aspect and so he's "interning" with the studio. He and I were chit-chatting and I inquired if he's day job was hiring. (I mean, after all I DO have a degree in graphic design and photography!) He laughed and said "uhm...No." Leaving me with the feeling I wasn't good enough for their group. I'll admit, my graphic design is rusty, at best. But I try hard and I take crit's very well. So, I could fit in there. I boasted about my education in the design field and my years of photography experience. He proceeded to inform me the designers that "work for him" (his words, not mine), don't have degrees in design. But they're brilliant their work is "high-n-tight". In addition, the only person there who has a degree in design is the programmer. So basically "you're degree doesn't mean anything." (His words. NOT mine.)

What?

Seriously?

After all that work...

it doesn't count for anything?

I guess I am destined to always be a geek loser.

happy friday.



* - my current employer is in no way, shape or form related to art or the creation of art.