Finally getting the boot.
Thread started by
northernsoulbyrd at 05.13.09 - 9:16 pm
So, my mom has finally decided to give me the boot. She thinks I've been having too much fun lately, but it's like WTF? That's not my fault... I've been trying really hard to find a job and I've had absolutely no luck. So what else can I do besides have fun? School has been a really big struggle for me. It's so hard to afford because I'm out of a job, I didn't qualify for fee waivers or EOP&S.
Not only did my mom decide to give me the boot, she's deciding to send me back to Portland, Oregon and she wants me to live by myself, not with a roommate. She's sending me there with nothing but my clothes and my bike. She knows I received a full scholarship to the art school of my choice and she wants me to take the scholarship and receive free schooling instead of being here and struggling with school finances.
Seriously, when my mom told me she's sending me back, I cried a lot. I haven't really started living my life until this year. Bars, parties, rides, photography and meeting so many new people... I seriously think Midnight Ridazz is one of the best things to happen to me recently. That and how far my photography has gotten me. My mom has faith in me and she thinks this will do me some good. She wants me to be a world renowned photographer someday. I think this will do me some good as well. I'll be more focused and less struggling. I'm going to miss my friends, Midnight Ridazz and the awesome nightlife here DEARLY, but we all have to make sacrifices...
I'll be in Portland this summer for the big bike ride over there and also to look for a studio there. I should be living there again by this August. Portland ridazz, HIT ME UP!
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Even with the money I brought in last year, I found out too late that I was actually qualified for the BOG fee-waiver after relenting and filling out the FAFSA.
But, luckily I now know I could work full-time and have some school costs taken care of for next semester.
Now as far as Portland goes, don't look at is as a bad thing.
The art-school thing you got going seems worth it and the city itself is, to me, the crown-jewel of the Pacific Northwest.
A nice, even mixture of city-atmosphere with the rural-style of living just mere miles outside of the city.
Not to mention the weekly slugfest that is Zoobomb and a whole host of Natural Born Ridazz up there that will easily gather when called upon.
Shit, if I had a scholarship op to go to school up there, I'd take it and never come back to this desert.
bentstrider05.13.09 - 9:24 pm
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I used to live in Portland last year, but I was really homesick and depressed. I was depressed because I was living with my ex and you know, there was some shit going on between us. However, this time I'll be alone and I think I'll be much happier!
One thing that really concerns me is getting a degree in art. Yeah, sure, free school... But is a degree in art really going to guarantee me anything in the future? Attending an art school doesn't necessarily mean that I'll make it in the art world, it doesn't even mean that I'm a good artist... However, free school is free school. Its better than no school at all!
I loved almost everything about Portland! From all the vintage stores they had, the cycling friendly city, cheap rent and great public transportation -- having a car wasn't necessary unless you were carrying a lot of shit. The ONLY thing I really, really hated about the city was the lack of diversity. 80% white people. I was literally the darkest person there, lol.
northernsoulbyrd05.13.09 - 9:28 pm
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I don't think I ever met you but like you said... free school is free school and it's gonna definitely suck to leave all your friends and life behind but man... take advantage of that scholarship. Take care of everything now and then when you're done... you'll be glad you had done what you did. Portland has an awesome scene and I'm sure you'll be fine there. If you did it here... you can do it there. Wear that MR sticker/badge on your person... .sport your LA spoke cards... it'll be awesome...
digablesoul05.13.09 - 9:39 pm
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And I have the best spoke card ever: NOCTURNAL CYCLIST DTLA.
213, you know how we be!
northernsoulbyrd05.13.09 - 9:45 pm
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school is what you make of it, and art school is no different than a regular college. if you work hard and make the most of it you'll be fine
not everyone who goes to business school is successful either
[ for the record, i go to art school. ]
tinycities05.13.09 - 9:45 pm
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You can get a good education just about anywhere. Art schools simply make it a bit harder because they typically ask so little of their students academically. If you are serious about your studies and take meaningful classes, you will do fine.
As far as your future, having a BFA will certainly make you more qualified for some jobs than others, but you will be surprised how well it transfers to other fields. Creativity is a commodity.
theroyalacademy05.13.09 - 9:49 pm
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Ha. Sheli and I said the same thing.
(I went to art school too. Twice.)
theroyalacademy05.13.09 - 9:50 pm
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now i feel horrible about not being able to lend you my ulock for 328 nica :( ha
theladiesman05.13.09 - 9:55 pm
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at least it isnt hard to live in portland. between the free section of craigslist, the bins, the dumpsters behind whole foods and PBR i was able to live on my own at age 17 hardly workign at all.
larsenf05.13.09 - 9:55 pm
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God damnit.
This sucks.
Keep in touch, NO RIDA LEFT BEHIND!
TheDude05.13.09 - 10:17 pm
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Hahahaha. ^^^
Also, for my own cynical pleasure,
" But is a degree in art really going to guarantee me anything in the future?"
NOPE!!
Look at Fuzzbeast. Masters. No job.
It's a tough, tough world.
imachynna05.13.09 - 10:19 pm
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Oops. That hahaha was for Ray's comment.
imachynna05.13.09 - 10:19 pm
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exactly what NorthernSB said, i went to OTIS for 2yrs.. and it got me nowhere, but the experience i had there was like no other art school that could of given me..but now i work FT at restaurant as a Manager..
its tough tough...
tekmo05.14.09 - 2:36 am
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You will learn a lot from this experience. Last year I graduated from college, broke up with the love of my life, moved, couldn't find a job, and experienced a strained relationship with my parents. I was living on unemployment to the tune of $74 a week and I was depressed as fuck. That's when I broke my bike out of my parents' garage. Biking is my therapy.
A year later I'm stronger than I've ever been. And a lot happier. I'm a lot more resourceful and a lot more flexible.
Personally I've always wanted to visit Portland. Dude, now we can all come visit you! Just tell me when I can buy my plane ticket ; p
Enjoy art school and pursue your dreams! I know a cool chick in Portland who is also an artist!
HappyLand05.14.09 - 6:52 am
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Art school in Portland? Shit...have fun!
LA will still be here later...
alicestrong05.14.09 - 7:00 am
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Also, I would like to add that the old saying, "Wherever you go, there you are", is bullshit.
Changing scenery from time-to-time is a good way to keep yourself from falling into a state of monotony.
bentstrider05.14.09 - 7:00 am
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the marines will hire you!
Any branch of the military will commission you as long as you've got any, BA or BS degree.
Hell, that one dude dolamyte told it like it is.
bentstrider05.14.09 - 1:50 pm
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I didn't go to a fancy schmancy art school...but my degree is in fine art...I knew going in that I wouldn't be doing art for a living, though...
BUT, if you do well in your school, who's to say you can't transfer to another school (in so cal) in a year or two? And do that transfer with a scholarship!
responsibility sucks, and play is fun...but at some point, you do have to figure out how to pay rent...so that should be a long term goal in the back of your mind...
adrian05.14.09 - 2:25 pm
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I thought this was going to be a fake account confession thread....
if you arent trying to get a job as a lawyer or doctor or some super technical field it doesnt matter what your degree is in. they just want to know you can follow through on something and a degree is proof positive of it. you'll still have to work your way up in whatever field you choose starting as a scrub even if you have a degree.
Roadblock05.14.09 - 2:30 pm
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yeah, no one ever asked to see my degree
adrian05.14.09 - 2:33 pm
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that's especially true for art. no who is in the position of hiring someoone cares where you got your degree or many times even IF you got a degree... it's all about the portfolio portfolio portfolio
Roadblock05.14.09 - 2:39 pm
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I've got a great portfolio, just not a whole lot of experience yet. Still have to learn studio lighting for commercial photography and portraiture. It would be fucking awesome if someone could buy one of my prints, hahaha.
Anyone interested? I'll give you a good price! I know times are tough. =T I just need money right now, ANY INCOME coming in right now would be grand.
northernsoulbyrd05.14.09 - 2:43 pm
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go apprentice for a professional photographer that you respect. work for FREE for a few months whenever you can. wash his/her car gopher shit move lights... go get lunch, sweep up the spot, organize flicks, retouch shit.. do it ALL. see it ALL
when I got into graphic design my school was patheticly equiped. I mean PATHETIC. the teachers were dinosaurs and the computers and software were completely outdated. so I went out and found the dopest studio ever in existance through a chance connection... Pawn Shop Press. god I loved that place. small design shop off of cahuenga and santa monica. it was the most magical place for a college kid to work - for free. I was obsessed. they would have to boot me out of the studio at the end of the day. I rushed over there on my days off from working at oshman's sporting goods and going to CSUN.... through that apprenticeship I learned EVERYTHING about Macintosh, Scanning, design, taste but most importantly I was able to see two hustlers making money at design, directing photoshoots putting album packages together... they were so inspiring to me. I still get misty-eyed thinking about it. they put me on one of their computers and I manged to read the entire photoshop manual. learned it inside out and soon enough they were asking me things about the program... they eventually hired me on and even passed off jobs to me that they didnt want to deal with. I learned how to design logos and resize artwork for different layouts... their names were on all the best albums of the day. they'd do funny shit like put my name on design credits when they were too embarrassed to put their own... if you look at the Luniz second album, it says designed by "ttjahmal" hahahaha I could not have been luckier to find those guys...
go find an apprenticeship and love it and work it and get DIRTY and do everything you can to be a useful resourceful humble person. do it while your in school and while you have a regular job. fuck all this party bullshit. you have the rest of your life to regress into that!
Roadblock05.14.09 - 2:52 pm
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that's very true. work first, play later. I think I am going to take that into consideration... Being someone's assistant. Picking out the blue M&Ms and getting coffee thrown in my face because it's one degree too cold... Hahahaha, good times.
Really though, gotta build connections. I am exhibiting at 2 shows coming up. I'm exhibiting at Nothing Special Fest and there is a ride being led there, you guys should come & check out my work! I have some limited edition prints I will be selling if anyone is interested.
northernsoulbyrd05.14.09 - 3:07 pm
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I just heard a commentary on Marketplace that designers--while many are laid off lately--will have a permanent fixture in the US marketplace because the work can't as easily be outsourced, unlike accounting finance, etc, that are increasingly going offshore. So take the free schooling, get the most out of it, find some good internships, graduate and kick some ass.
0gravity05.14.09 - 4:02 pm
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"go find an apprenticeship and love it and work it and get DIRTY and do everything you can to be a useful resourceful humble person."
Flood a girl's apartment.
imachynna05.14.09 - 9:33 pm
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