Iadt: Why I Enrolled

The best thing about being at IADT is as an artist, I finally am able to surround myself with creative oddballs like myself. As the black sheep of my family and friends, I have always felt as though the people around me thought my dreams of becoming a graphic artist were aimless, constantly calling it "a hobby". While they were busy criticizing me behind my back, I was just as busy polishing my skills and following my heart through the path I knew was right. I refused to give up designing because even as a young teen, I realized that the hard work I would eventually accomplish would pay off in a big way. For once in my life, I'm ready to do something positive for myself and completely change my life.

While I care about my loved ones, it's time to shine in the spotlight.

Before IADT, I was alone on an island of creative design and ideas. Not one member of my family has a background in the field I'm interested in, so I had to rely on high school classes and tutorials on the Internet. The materials were there, but I had no guidance or opportunity to advance in my studies. When I graduated from high school, I did not have the funds to continue my education towards a degree. Also, because I had little knowledge of the graphic design world, I had no idea that design schools were in my own backyard, just waiting for people like me to take the plunge into their dreams of digital artistry. I shuffled around community college for two years, wasting time and wondering just where I was going. The feeling of having no direction but wanting to get on the right track is frustrating, and I soon grew motivated to take action.

A lucky break from an old friend finally directed me to several Sacramento design schools, and while researching these different institutions, a voice inside of me told me this was my calling. In those crucial moments, I knew this was a chance I had to pursue. Fate brought me to IADT one Friday afternoon, after an unexpected phone call from Tom George inviting me to tour the school. I'd say the rest is history, but the time I'm spending learning material and life lessons is something I want to relish in the present. I will listen to other designer's stories and relate to their journeys. Even if my family and friends still have doubts about where I'm going in life, they can look up at a billboard or in a magazine in five years, and my work will certainly speak for itself.

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