Talk about adventures. Let's start with where I was when we last left off. I was working for a photography company taking school portraits, I was living at home, and I was struggling greatly with any sense of independence. It's tough enough being someone who is over the age of 21 and still living at home. It is another to be someone who lost their independence when they got sick. I didn't have a choice in the matter and that made it extremely hard. When I finally got a full time job doing something that I mildly enjoyed, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. No big light. It was more of a flashlight really, but none the less it was there. I became content with the reality that was before. Full time job, live at home a bit while longer until I can afford to move out (in NJ it would have taken me at least 2 years) and start my life. I was also a volunteer coach for my high school cheerleading team. One of the girls on the team was the daughter of my old Photography teacher. It was great seeing him again, but he didn't understand why I wasn't out in the world taking photos. He always encouraged me to go after that dream, but I was quick to dismiss it. When I first graduated high school I went to school in Delaware to become a Phys. Ed. teacher. Yikes. That may be someone else's perfect dream, but it was never mine. That was me settling for what I thought I should do. I spoke to a friend of mine who is a photographer for an NFL team who told me I had a shot at making my true dream come true if I was willing to work for it. That was all I needed.
I applied to multiple schools, looked at multiple schools, but there was only one that had I wanted. Western Kentucky University. The Photojournalism program at this school was more then just school, it was a lifestyle. It threw you into everything that you would be doing in the real world, but with more freedom. That's the perks of being a student. I was nervous, extremely nervous. I'd be older then the other kids. What if I forgot how to go about college. I felt like a high school freshman again, but I took the leap.
I made the cut, got into the school, had a shot at the program, and by August 27 I was moved in to my apartment in Kentucky and buying the rest of my schoolbooks.
This brings us to now. I'm proud to say that I made it through the semester with all B's (for anyone who knows me I have never been a good student), I'm officially a Photojournalism Student at WKU, and I'm excited for the future ahead.
As long as my health keeps cooperating I'd say I have a very good and long road to ride on.
Talk to you when the semester starts.
xoxo Meila
