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If I ever go back to school—if I ever go back to college, if I ever decide to go back to the ‘formal education’ thing; if i ever continue my education by expanding on my original discipline, or by taking on a different discipline//area of focus—I will probably go for a focus in drawing and illustration. I’ll probably go for ‘drawing and illustration’–studio art; practicing visual arts–as my discipline.

My undergrad major was in English literature. I took a fair amount of classes in writing composition, literature, creative writing composition, and a couple classes in grammar and linguistics. I also had to do the gen eds that are often required of undergrads. I actually ended up acquiring a degree in liberal studies, since I had switched my major ten courses before graduation. -My very first charted-out career plan was to go into book and magazine publishing, as a developmental editor. I can remember sitting in the lounge area of my community college, during my very first year there—during my very first year at college—thinking that being an editor was what I wanted to do, once I was done with school. But throughout the remainder of my undergrad, I had researched and considered other options, too; I thought about going into library science, grant writing, content writing/copywriting, elementary school teaching, nonprofit program coordination, paralegal work, and etc. Suffice it to say that none of those roles really seem to fit me, even to this day. | I actually spent about 8 years in college, in undergrad; I was part-time for a long while, and I had severe difficulty with some of the basic requirements of being a student, I guess. But throughout my undergrad years, I had actually interned and volunteered at several different places//organizations, and in several different fields. Some were the same fields as aforementioned, the same kinds of fields that I was constantly thinking about and imaging myself in. These immersion experiences helped me to hone in on the activities and disciplines that fit me, and it also helped me to be conscious of what doesn’t seem to fit me—it helped me weed out what doesn’t fit, in regards to my personality and character, and etc. I had tried teaching and tutoring elementary school; I tried grant writing; editing; and graphic design. I’d managed to acquire internships/volunteer work in all four of those areas. They weren’t very intensive internships, at all, but they were more than enough to really show me what the specific jobs are about, and whether I should look into them further and try to make a living, a career, out of them. In essence, and at the end of it, I’d realized—with some dismay—that the only one I was really attracted to was the graphic design thing, the artistic/visual arts one. I’d also been doing independent illustration and design work for some years, on my own time—and that in itself had also steered me in the direction of the visual arts, of going into the visual arts as my main line of work.

If I ever go back to school, I’m gonna go for drawing and illustration, as aforementioned. I’m not even gonna go for graphic design, or animation, or anything like that. Those might be more marketable skills, and more in-demand, as fields and as careers…but I feel that with this second chance at higher education—with this whole ‘going back to school’ thing—I should definitely just choose my true interest, my true passion. I should not pass up the chance to take drawing/illustration, and truly learn them in a formal manner. I shouldn’t pass it up, this time around. I already took a Ba degree in something I’m not interested in, anymore (literature, language, editing, writing, research, textual analysis, etc.); I’m already 28 years old. I feel that I can’t re-route my academic plans for a third time, after this; I can’t switch disciplines yet again, after this transition to the visual arts. (Which I’m currently considering//mulling over.) | I am a tiny bit worried that formal learning will regiment me, and make me inclined to follow strict guidelines, in drawing. Right now, I’m very free-flowing in my drawing and illustration. I draw how I want to, even if it may not come out as clean or realistic as others’ work. I actually have a strong appreciation for my own style of artwork; I think it’s carefree and whimsical. I wanna specialize in editorial illustration, magazine and newspaper work; book cover art; children’s book illustration; stationary art and greeting cards; and things like that. I know that if I truly want to succeed in this type of work, I’m going to have to really give it my all, and focus, and try my utmost best. I have to give it my best effort. The days of ‘this looks good enough’ will have to be over, if/when I begin this new chapter in my life—this chapter of being an illustrator, for real, as my career.

I think most illustrators work freelance, and so I have to get used to that. I’m thinking of working retail, or in secretarial work, while I do illustration commissions, on the side. | I’m excited to go back to school for drawing/illustration, if//when I do. I’ll be at the same community college that I began my undergrad journey in—northern Virginia community college. (That’s where I began my educational journey about eight or nine years ago, as an undergrad English major. I’ll probably go back there for an associates or something, in drawing and illustration. I’ll think about applying there in like three or four years—I’ll do it once I have enough money saved up to spend a small portion of it on my new program. I’ll honestly consider taking only two or three classes in drawing/illustration, since there’s no real guarantee of a job, or even of steady work, after I’ve completed the coursework. But I honestly think I’ll probably stay for the whole certificate/for the whole a.a. degree program. I think I’ll enjoy it 🥲🪷🌺.

ty*****, luv u. # best of luck to evryone🙏🏽🥲🌸

ty, bye