Here at MCAD, people seem to be addicted to one of two things: coffee and/or cigarettes. I'm the oddball. I happen to be addicted to neither. With the long hours I pull in the lab, I get people asking me how I survive without coffee. For awhile, I didn't know how to answer. I just do. Now I know it all comes down to one thing: motivation.
I told this to someone and he didn't think motivation alone could keep one going at all hours of the day. Why not? I don't think there is any other explanation as to how I do what I do without the help of coffee or energy drinks.
The nights I lack motivation are the nights where I tire easily and find it hard to work. When I'm motivated and in the zone, I can keep on truckin' well into the morning. Last weekend is a great example. I was in the lab for 14 hours both Saturday and Sunday; Sunday I left the lab at 7am Monday morning. I probably could've kept on going if I didn't need to get some sleep before class!
I love what I do. I wouldn't be here if I didn't - I would've cracked ages ago! I'm a dedicated student who is motivated to be the best I can be. I'm not going to get to that point if I don't work hard and give it my all. At MCAD, with animation especially, it means working long hours. You can't be the best without putting in the hours. That's enough to keep me going.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Work Ethic
If there is one thing I am sure of about myself, it's that I'm a hard worker. Always have been and always will be. Despite how hard I may work, I always feel like I could be doing more. Sometimes I even consider myself a slacker.
MCAD is a hard school. There is no doubt about that. You have to be on top of things if you want to succeed. It's something I love and hate about the school. ha The workload has pushed my boundaries and made me realize just how much I can do... and how well I can deal with stress. I used to get so stressed out that I'd basically psych myself out and "paralyze" myself from working. Now, I take things one step at a time and I remain relatively calm throughout the process. I learned that it's the only way to get things done. Worrying is not going to get a darn thing done. Go figure.
I'm amused by how many people try to get by without doing anything. They b.s their way through critiques or make up excuses as to why their projects aren't done. That is something I've never been able to understand - how can you not try? I try my hardest and I still feel like I'm not working hard enough. How can one not try at all and be alright with that? Sure, there are circumstances were people do try and just can't make progress... I know I've had weeks like that; where progress is slow and any progress I do have is virtually invisible because I've been fixing problems in Maya.
I just think a general lack of a strong work ethic is a problem right now. People expect to be handed things and not have to do a thing to earn it. I don't understand that mindset.
MCAD is a hard school. There is no doubt about that. You have to be on top of things if you want to succeed. It's something I love and hate about the school. ha The workload has pushed my boundaries and made me realize just how much I can do... and how well I can deal with stress. I used to get so stressed out that I'd basically psych myself out and "paralyze" myself from working. Now, I take things one step at a time and I remain relatively calm throughout the process. I learned that it's the only way to get things done. Worrying is not going to get a darn thing done. Go figure.
I'm amused by how many people try to get by without doing anything. They b.s their way through critiques or make up excuses as to why their projects aren't done. That is something I've never been able to understand - how can you not try? I try my hardest and I still feel like I'm not working hard enough. How can one not try at all and be alright with that? Sure, there are circumstances were people do try and just can't make progress... I know I've had weeks like that; where progress is slow and any progress I do have is virtually invisible because I've been fixing problems in Maya.
I just think a general lack of a strong work ethic is a problem right now. People expect to be handed things and not have to do a thing to earn it. I don't understand that mindset.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Friendship
I spent a good majority of my life jumping from group of friends to group of friends. I was the drifter. I had a decent amount of friends, but I was always on the outside. It was good because I usually managed to avoid drama. haha It was bad because I never really had a close friend; someone I could tell anything to and just be my crazy ol' self with. I had some good friends, but I tended to put up a lot of barriers.
After high school, life changed. I changed. I became comfortable with who I am. I tore down many of my barriers and let myself be open to true friendships. I am blessed with many great friends, without whom I don't know how I'd survive the crazy life I live here at MCAD as an animation student.
I've always been one to put my friends first. After being "burned" by a friend at a young age, putting friends first was a way for me to "ensure" that they'd continue being my friends... or so I realized later on. Don't get me wrong, I still cared for my friends, it just wasn't a totally selfless act. Constantly trying to keep a friendship isn't the way to keep a friendship. There has to be trust. Trust that even if you say or do something stupid, they'll still stick by you. If they don't, well, then they aren't worth the worry.
Today I find myself putting my friends first because I truly want to. They mean the world to me. I'd drop everything in a heartbeat for my friends. I have their back no matter what. I care for my close friends as I care for my family. They're my second family. I'm not trying to keep friends by saying and doing things that I think are right anymore. I'm keeping friends by just being myself. The ones that matter are at my side, accepting me for who I am. They're the ones I'd give my life for.
For me, getting to this point means I've battled and conquered by past demons. I'm at a point where these kind of friendships can happen. I'm at a point I've wanted to be at for years.
After high school, life changed. I changed. I became comfortable with who I am. I tore down many of my barriers and let myself be open to true friendships. I am blessed with many great friends, without whom I don't know how I'd survive the crazy life I live here at MCAD as an animation student.
I've always been one to put my friends first. After being "burned" by a friend at a young age, putting friends first was a way for me to "ensure" that they'd continue being my friends... or so I realized later on. Don't get me wrong, I still cared for my friends, it just wasn't a totally selfless act. Constantly trying to keep a friendship isn't the way to keep a friendship. There has to be trust. Trust that even if you say or do something stupid, they'll still stick by you. If they don't, well, then they aren't worth the worry.
Today I find myself putting my friends first because I truly want to. They mean the world to me. I'd drop everything in a heartbeat for my friends. I have their back no matter what. I care for my close friends as I care for my family. They're my second family. I'm not trying to keep friends by saying and doing things that I think are right anymore. I'm keeping friends by just being myself. The ones that matter are at my side, accepting me for who I am. They're the ones I'd give my life for.
For me, getting to this point means I've battled and conquered by past demons. I'm at a point where these kind of friendships can happen. I'm at a point I've wanted to be at for years.
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