10. I need this to mean something

While I sit here in the computer lab on a Saturday night, I question myself, my motives, my life, and my future. Just coming from an all-day cookout that most of my friends attended I realized that some things are really actually easier said than done. It’s much easier to say that I need to do work than to actually do it.  As I left the function I received the common slew of questions they always ask when I leave early or don’t attend certain events altogether: Why aren’t you coming? How come you spend all this time in the library/lab? Another project? Why do you always choose homework over hanging?

Usually those questions roll off my back like water on a duck but this time… Why am I here doing this?! I just want to relax and do hoodrat things with my friends. Every week there is always some big thing to do or some deadline to meet. WHY is it so hard for my social, educational, and professional life to coexist without one element suffering?

Luckily my chat with my friend, Eli has been on repeat ever since we had it yesterday. THIS RIGHT HERE. THIS MOMENT. THESE TASKS. THE LATE NIGHTS. EARLY MORNINGS. UNWILLING COMMITMENT TO PROJECTS . EVERYTHING I’M SUBSTITUTING FOR MY SOCIAL CALENDAR. All of the things that are currently consuming my life without my permission are eventually going to lead to something. What it is, I do not know but I have the feeling it’s gonna be worth it and it’s the fear that keeps me moving towards that.  In the short-term if I do not do what I need to do I will fail out of college. The long-term fears consists of the thought that I will one day  wake up  and realize that I did nothing and in return I am nothing. That is was scares and drives me the most. Truth be told, it scares me like hell.  I need what I am currently doing to mean something.

So from here on out I pledge to myself to

  • Not complete my work as a means to an ends but so the end can mean something
  • Extinguish the doubts that say you will be nothing.
  • Fight tooth and nail for a better future despite my current situations
  • Look at each sucky situation as a necessary growing pain 
  • Make my norm normal by surrounding myself with more late night owls like me
  • Thank God for these difficult but yet beneficial “burdens” every chance I get.
  • Also thank Eli ten years from today when I can look back at now with a smile.

9. Vista Print, Ima let you finish but I just have to say Moo does it better

If you have a Pandora, there is no escaping the, “Get your free x amount of business cards for free from vista print!” line. It’s inevitable. However, what is not inevitable is actually taking Vista up on their offer and ordering these cards.

Business cards may be the only first impression you have to make so why not make it a good one? I don’t want to hand some potential employer a card that does not truly represent me. For all I know, 1,000 other people could have the same 2” by 3”.

I browsed a few options and this one was one of my top fave. Maybe it’s because lately I’ve just been loving this whole wood theme. Plus, not to sound like a nerd but the characters ” { ” and ” } ” are seriously one of my favorite. Don’t ask why, all I can say is I fell in love with them about a year ago and we’ve been happy ever since. Regular parentheses just don’t do it for me anymore. 

Anyway, before I talk you ear off, or would be it type your eyes out in this case? Besides the point, just go to Moo

9. Vista Print, Ima let you finish but I just have to say Moo does it better

8.

I think this is the first  YouTube ad that I have actually watched in its entirety.

Amazingly, like most ads these days this one did not leave me with the dreaded “I just wasted a few moments of my life that I will never get back” feeling. If I was an iPhone user Google would have successfully accomplished their mission in making me use their Google Map application more than I hypothetically would have done in the past. 

I believe that great ads do more than just blab about the product before they then tell viewers to buy it. Great ads evoke an emotion that makes you WANT  to buy the product - this advertisement for Google Maps did just that.  Although it ran a little over two minutes, the length of it all really did not phase me. From the first moment I was engaged because I heard people like me - actual people and not actors - in the background. From there, they continued to let the victims and the rescuers tell their story without interruptions. It was not until more than half way in did they mention the actual product.THAT RIGHT THERE…can you say golden? It shows that this was more than the average persuasive ad but one that the public could relate to. That’s what people want to see. That’s what will get people thinking about products long after the hype has faded.

To see more of these type of “ads” Google uploaded onto YouTube, click this link . You won’t regret that you did.

8.

I think this is the first  YouTube ad that I have actually watched in its entirety.

Amazingly, like most ads these days this one did not leave me with the dreaded “I just wasted a few moments of my life that I will never get back” feeling. If I was an iPhone user Google would have successfully accomplished their mission in making me use their Google Map application more than I hypothetically would have done in the past. 

I believe that great ads do more than just blab about the product before they then tell viewers to buy it. Great ads evoke an emotion that makes you WANT  to buy the product - this advertisement for Google Maps did just that.  Although it ran a little over two minutes, the length of it all really did not phase me. From the first moment I was engaged because I heard people like me - actual people and not actors - in the background. From there, they continued to let the victims and the rescuers tell their story without interruptions. It was not until more than half way in did they mention the actual product.THAT RIGHT THERE…can you say golden? It shows that this was more than the average persuasive ad but one that the public could relate to. That’s what people want to see. That’s what will get people thinking about products long after the hype has faded.

To see more of these type of “ads” Google uploaded onto YouTube, click this link . You won’t regret that you did.

8.

I think this is the first  YouTube ad that I have actually watched in its entirety.

Amazingly, like most ads these days this one did not leave me with the dreaded “I just wasted a few moments of my life that I will never get back” feeling. If I was an iPhone user Google would have successfully accomplished their mission in making me use their Google Map application more than I hypothetically would have done in the past. 

I believe that great ads do more than just blab about the product before they then tell viewers to buy it. Great ads evoke an emotion that makes you WANT  to buy the product - this advertisement for Google Maps did just that.  Although it ran a little over two minutes, the length of it all really did not phase me. From the first moment I was engaged because I heard people like me - actual people and not actors - in the background. From there, they continued to let the victims and the rescuers tell their story without interruptions. It was not until more than half way in did they mention the actual product.THAT RIGHT THERE…can you say golden? It shows that this was more than the average persuasive ad but one that the public could relate to. That’s what people want to see. That’s what will get people thinking about products long after the hype has faded.

To see more of these type of “ads” Google uploaded onto YouTube, click this link . You won’t regret that you did.

8.

I think this is the first  YouTube ad that I have actually watched in its entirety.

Amazingly, like most ads these days this one did not leave me with the dreaded “I just wasted a few moments of my life that I will never get back” feeling. If I was an iPhone user Google would have successfully accomplished their mission in making me use their Google Map application more than I hypothetically would have done in the past. 

I believe that great ads do more than just blab about the product before they then tell viewers to buy it. Great ads evoke an emotion that makes you WANT  to buy the product - this advertisement for Google Maps did just that.  Although it ran a little over two minutes, the length of it all really did not phase me. From the first moment I was engaged because I heard people like me - actual people and not actors - in the background. From there, they continued to let the victims and the rescuers tell their story without interruptions. It was not until more than half way in did they mention the actual product.THAT RIGHT THERE…can you say golden? It shows that this was more than the average persuasive ad but one that the public could relate to. That’s what people want to see. That’s what will get people thinking about products long after the hype has faded.

To see more of these type of “ads” Google uploaded onto YouTube, click this link . You won’t regret that you did.

7.

Just got out of a one-on-one that I had with my professor and I realized that I have so far to go. All this running around I have been doing, all these miles that I have ran, it has not gotten me as far as I hoped it would. It’s like I have been jogging for so long, thinking I am getting somewhere when in actual fact I have been running on a treadmill for the last four years of my life. 

I am not going to say that with this realization came flowers and daisies because that would be a lie. Salt has been poured into my wounds, my body and mind aches from the stretching,  I got slapped in the face, and my dreams have somewhat been shattered. All in all,  It feels pretty great!  The sting of the salt has left a slightly addicting tingling sensation that keeps me coming back for more. Although my mental bones feel fragile and they ache from all that pulling and stretching, my mind now shows its gratitude with a new level of flexibility. The slap reminds me to feel pain so I know what it is to fall and how great it is to be on top.  As for my dreams, I say good riddance. Looking back I realize they were not dreams but lowly hung safety nets that never got me anywhere but a few inches off the ground. With them gone, I have higher standards to look forward to.Now I can look forward to etching out the bottom stem of my “T”, aka, finding my niche.

Step 0. Stop using “I am trying to find myself” as a crutch. In the back of my mind, you know who you are so let it out already. Times a wastin’.

Step 1. What am I good at?

Step 2. What do I love to do?

Step 3. Find people who work in the areas of my skills and my interests (They don’t have to work in both, either one will do).

Step 4. Find out every and all things about those jobs

Step 5. How do I get there? Internships, networking, moving, school, etc.

Step 6. Once I have found out step 5, follow them.

7.

Just got out of a one-on-one that I had with my professor and I realized that I have so far to go. All this running around I have been doing, all these miles that I have ran, it has not gotten me as far as I hoped it would. It’s like I have been jogging for so long, thinking I am getting somewhere when in actual fact I have been running on a treadmill for the last four years of my life. 

I am not going to say that with this realization came flowers and daisies because that would be a lie. Salt has been poured into my wounds, my body and mind aches from the stretching,  I got slapped in the face, and my dreams have somewhat been shattered. All in all,  It feels pretty great!  The sting of the salt has left a slightly addicting tingling sensation that keeps me coming back for more. Although my mental bones feel fragile and they ache from all that pulling and stretching, my mind now shows its gratitude with a new level of flexibility. The slap reminds me to feel pain so I know what it is to fall and how great it is to be on top.  As for my dreams, I say good riddance. Looking back I realize they were not dreams but lowly hung safety nets that never got me anywhere but a few inches off the ground. With them gone, I have higher standards to look forward to.Now I can look forward to etching out the bottom stem of my “T”, aka, finding my niche.

Step 0. Stop using “I am trying to find myself” as a crutch. In the back of my mind, you know who you are so let it out already. Times a wastin’.

Step 1. What am I good at?

Step 2. What do I love to do?

Step 3. Find people who work in the areas of my skills and my interests (They don’t have to work in both, either one will do).

Step 4. Find out every and all things about those jobs

Step 5. How do I get there? Internships, networking, moving, school, etc.

Step 6. Once I have found out step 5, follow them.

7.

Just got out of a one-on-one that I had with my professor and I realized that I have so far to go. All this running around I have been doing, all these miles that I have ran, it has not gotten me as far as I hoped it would. It’s like I have been jogging for so long, thinking I am getting somewhere when in actual fact I have been running on a treadmill for the last four years of my life. 

I am not going to say that with this realization came flowers and daisies because that would be a lie. Salt has been poured into my wounds, my body and mind aches from the stretching,  I got slapped in the face, and my dreams have somewhat been shattered. All in all,  It feels pretty great!  The sting of the salt has left a slightly addicting tingling sensation that keeps me coming back for more. Although my mental bones feel fragile and they ache from all that pulling and stretching, my mind now shows its gratitude with a new level of flexibility. The slap reminds me to feel pain so I know what it is to fall and how great it is to be on top.  As for my dreams, I say good riddance. Looking back I realize they were not dreams but lowly hung safety nets that never got me anywhere but a few inches off the ground. With them gone, I have higher standards to look forward to.Now I can look forward to etching out the bottom stem of my “T”, aka, finding my niche.

Step 0. Stop using “I am trying to find myself” as a crutch. In the back of my mind, you know who you are so let it out already. Times a wastin’.

Step 1. What am I good at?

Step 2. What do I love to do?

Step 3. Find people who work in the areas of my skills and my interests (They don’t have to work in both, either one will do).

Step 4. Find out every and all things about those jobs

Step 5. How do I get there? Internships, networking, moving, school, etc.

Step 6. Once I have found out step 5, follow them.

7.

Just got out of a one-on-one that I had with my professor and I realized that I have so far to go. All this running around I have been doing, all these miles that I have ran, it has not gotten me as far as I hoped it would. It’s like I have been jogging for so long, thinking I am getting somewhere when in actual fact I have been running on a treadmill for the last four years of my life. 

I am not going to say that with this realization came flowers and daisies because that would be a lie. Salt has been poured into my wounds, my body and mind aches from the stretching,  I got slapped in the face, and my dreams have somewhat been shattered. All in all,  It feels pretty great!  The sting of the salt has left a slightly addicting tingling sensation that keeps me coming back for more. Although my mental bones feel fragile and they ache from all that pulling and stretching, my mind now shows its gratitude with a new level of flexibility. The slap reminds me to feel pain so I know what it is to fall and how great it is to be on top.  As for my dreams, I say good riddance. Looking back I realize they were not dreams but lowly hung safety nets that never got me anywhere but a few inches off the ground. With them gone, I have higher standards to look forward to.Now I can look forward to etching out the bottom stem of my “T”, aka, finding my niche.

Step 0. Stop using “I am trying to find myself” as a crutch. In the back of my mind, you know who you are so let it out already. Times a wastin’.

Step 1. What am I good at?

Step 2. What do I love to do?

Step 3. Find people who work in the areas of my skills and my interests (They don’t have to work in both, either one will do).

Step 4. Find out every and all things about those jobs

Step 5. How do I get there? Internships, networking, moving, school, etc.

Step 6. Once I have found out step 5, follow them.

[vimeo 40029641 w=500 h=281]

6.

Not only is this man semi-good looking but, under all that hair is a brain that speaks truth. This morning in my Creative Strategy class my teacher, Deb Morrison showed me my first Ze Frank video. The man is a performance artist, composer, humorist, public speaker and a wordsmith.

In watching this video I learned a few important things about myself: 

1.  I too find and use metaphors to help my mind understand the world around me.

2.  My courage is not the easiest to grab a hold of. It won’t  just come when I call it, I have to chase it down and hold on as tight as I can.

3. I don’t want to be so vein to the point that I forget about all the others who fought the good fight to get me here. My #winnings do not just lie on my shoulders but in other people’s hands.

4. Being a victim of my defeats is not an option

5a. To stop being so soft when it comes to critique should be at the top of my to-do list.  Criticism is not meant to harm but to form.                                                     

5b. If the critic does intend to do me harm, I should always remember that there is a “block” button.

6.   My work is not simply a stepping stone to greater things so I need to bask in the current moment more often.

7. However, THE BIGGEST thing I came away with lies in the quote, 

"There’s no need to sharpen my pencils anymore, my pencils are sharp enough. Even the dull ones will make a mark."

To me, I believe it’s telling me to GO FOR IT! What is ”it” you ask? ”It” is anything I have my eye on. There comes a point where I need to stop preparing and just go. Even if I don’t feel ready, I am still capable of doing something.