Oh the Places You'll Go...

So, a lot has been going on lately and pretty much all of it has been just me trying to figure out who/what/where/why I am now and in the future.

First off, I have to give a bit of a correction. Despite the maybe-not-so-quiet urgings my mother gave to my brothers as they were figuring out their career paths, she has not in any way done this with me. The afore mentioned plans for the next 5 years of my life were discussed at length with my mom, but the ideas and decisions were all me. I really really like psychology, and I'm super excited at finding something to do with my life that I know will directly contribute to the betterment of the world. Also, the idea to be a psychologist was created the summer of last year, so I've had time to settle into the idea and grow roots. Although, I love clay and being an artist. My dilemma with being an artist for a living, though, is that I've never looked at any of my art (ceramics, photographs, drawings/paintings/etc.) as being something I could sell, or was even all that great. Also, my brother has always been the artist in the family. I know it's possible for there to be more than one artist in the family (especially if they work with two very different mediums), but that's just how it's always been.

Lately, I've been thinking more and more about what I am going to do with my life. The sheer fact that continuing with my art is a possibility is dizzying. I never really thought it was much of an option until I got that letter from Alfred University. Also, lately I've been thinking of going down that path especially after I got a call from my oldest brother yesterday. He and my sister-in-law had just bought a sculpture and thought of me, so he called and left a message to say that if it was in my heart, I should go for being an artist. A couple hours before I got that message, I had been talking to Dad in the car about how I really kinda do want to go to Alfred to study ceramics.

Although, what would I do with an art degree? I'm really not interested in teaching art. I highly doubt if my stuff would be in a museum somewhere. Although, it might be cool to start a shop with my art buddies for our one-of-a-kind (mostly functional) art, trinkets, and other suchwhat. Who knows?

Sorry this is so confusing to read. My brain feels a little muddled right now.

Choices, choices, choices!

At the moment, I'm really not happy with my flickr account. I don't like all of the limitations that I have in order to have a free account. I can only upload a certain number of photos per month and on top of that I can only have 200 photos in my photo stream. I don't like that. For a lot of people that might seem very reasonable, but I like to be able to upload all of my photos at once and then go back through and delete the ones I don't like, or just don't need to be on the internet. I also have far more than 200 photos that I'd like for people to be able to see. So, now I'm kind of looking around for a new site to upload my photos. I looked at photobucket but they want your cell phone number. I'm afraid to give it to them. They say they won't call you, but what about texting? That's 10 cents every time they deem it necessary to let me know about some kind of sponsor of theirs, or offer me a chance to win something, or alert me that someone has looked at 12 of my photos, each in their own little nicely wrapped package on my phone. Not worth it. I might try signing up and just not give them my phone number. Anyway, if someone has some other option that they like, let me know. I want to get my time's (since it had better be free) worth out of my photo-site.

drowning in the multitude

Finals are quickly approaching.... Tuesday marks the first day of the ever questionable marathon of running toward winter break and the multitude of obstacles that ostentatiously call themselves finals. To be honest I don't really mind finals all that much. They're just like the tests we've been taking throughout the entire semester. What I don't like about them are that they're worth 10% of your whole grade. Also, what they don't tell you about finals is that they don't actually help your grade. Most of what they do is drag it down to the mud for it to feast on the wet and grainy soil like an earthworm with a very empty stomach. It is true, finals can potentially raise your grade. What teachers don't add on to that misleading and deceitful fact is that it can only potentially raise your grade a few percentage points. Ok, I have an 85% in a class and I'm hoping and praying for an A. All I really need is a measly 4.5% to get that A- that my soul so desperately searches for in the depths of whatever academic class that grade would be for. Teachers spouting out that finals can (note can, not that they will) raise your grade sprouts a quite hope in my thumping heart. I could do it! I could really make an A in this class! Quickly, I grab a calculator to figure what kind of grade I need to get on the last obstacle I have to leap for that glorious A-. I press the enter button and the blistery cold, hard truth freezes what little hope I had cultivated in my now sunken heart. In order to raise my grade those bothersome 4.5 percentage points I have to get a 130% on the final. Even if I studied and drilled every little minuscule spec of information that I can lay my twitching hands on, with a maximum of 100% on the final, that 130% becomes as attainable as the holy grail. Oh, yeah, finals can really raise my grade. More often than not the final exam consists of a series of questions that give a false sense of security as they lay before you on the desk, but then once the teacher grades the pages of supposed victory your heart skips a beat, and your breath catches as you see the narrow escape you just made to keep the grade you've had all semester. Nope, I truly don't mind finals at all. >.<