:3

I’m not sure of how exactly I’m going to go about choosing a career; I’m not sure what exactly I should do. I thought that after I had ‘formally left’ the writing/editing/research aspiration, that I would be sailing through life, at that point. After I had had some exposure to literary and academic work, and after I decided that it wasn’t fit for me, I was supremely happy and relieved. I could finally do what suited me, I could do something appropriate for me. I didn’t really think that I would be in this specific situation, though; this situation of not knowing which direction to go in, exactly.

I mean I have it narrowed down to either web design, graphic design, animation arts, illustration, or photography, or some combination of these disciplines. If I could, I would become an illustrator and a photographer, without hesitation. I’m just kind of nervous because I know that these particular fields can be kind of shaky and unstable—especially as compared to web design, graphic design, and animation arts. The latter options are much more accommodating for permanent, full-time employment—whereas most illustrators and photographers work freelance, I think. And so I’m a little bit sad about my job prospects, my prospects for in-house employment. (“In-house employment” meaning a position as a regular staff member, an ‘in-house’ employee of a company.) I’m taking Intro To Digital Image Editing/Photoshop right now, in college. This is my very first formal class in creative media design and computer software. I’m taking this course for this Fall 2022 semester. (I had wanted to take Intro to Photography as well, but I was kinda late in registering for classes, and so the various sections of this class filled up before I could register. But I’ll take it next semester.) 

As aforementioned; if I could just do what I want to do (if I could “do anything”; if I had the opportunity to do anything, and be successful at it), I would do illustration and photography. I feel like drawing and photography are my vocational calling, they’re what I’m meant to do, for work. I don’t really want to do web design or graphic design or animation arts. I had only considered those fields because they are more stable, I think—they often offer the opportunity of permanent employment. | I honestly feel that with all of the painful difficulties I’ve had so far in my life, that I should simply just do what I want to do, regarding my career. I feel that I owe it to myself now, regarding my career. And I can always take on day-jobs until I become successful in illustration and photography. I’m thinking that’s what I should do, actually. I should simply just take on day jobs until I become successful with my photography and illustration. I don’t have to settle for graphic design or web design—I don’t enjoy either of them enough to make them my career. It’s not that I can’t see myself doing them, at all; I’ve actually done unpaid graphic design internships, and I’ve taken a bit of html and coding before, in an IT class, an intro to information technology class. It’s just that it’s not really for me—neither one of them. So I should just drop the whole idea, just like I had done with the professional writing/research/editing idea that I had back during undergrad, during my first degree.

Yeah—I mean as weird as this sounds, I’m just gonna work day jobs until I manage to find a staff photography position at a company or a nonprofit of sorts. It’s not that staff positions don’t exist, it’s just that 60% or so of photographers are freelance—that’s what I’ve read/understood. | And so I think what I’ll do is; I’ll take a few formal photography courses (and a few photo editing courses) at the community college I’m enrolled in right now. I’ll most likely complete the certificate/associates degree that they offer. (And I’ll work part time while I complete this academic program.) As soon as I have this educational credential done, I’ll start applying to different agencies and companies in my locality. I’m not gonna waste any time with applying; and I’ll try to truly be a competitive applicant. I’m hoping that with my formal education, and with good references from my previous places of employment, and with a very strong portfolio of work to show, I’ll gain an entry-level position within a few months of looking around. A staff position, that is; an in-house position. Well I’m gonna do the formal program at my school, regardless; and I’m gonna take on a couple of unpaid internships; and etc. I’m always gonna keep my hopes high that I’ll eventually find an in-house position with an agency or with the marketing/communications department of a company or nonprofit. I don’t think you should give up on your dreams, on what you truly want to do in life. If there’s a will there’s a way. Actually, lots of people work as in-house photographers, and as in-house designers, in-house web developers, and etc. It’s very possible. It’s just that you have to be good enough, and you have to go through all of the necessary steps and preliminary stages in order to get to the actual position.

I want to do portraiture; commercial/advertising work; school life photography (picture day, and informal shots of school activities and events); special event photography; and etc. The only genre that I’m hesitant about is photojournalism. :3 I have to learn more about it; I’m not sure if I’ll be good at it. :3 It seems to be a very serious genre; people will judge you if the work is not good enough. :3 I mean, I think the fact that the work is printed in magazines and newspapers opens up room for critique and negative judgment…whereas portraiture, school photos, and photographical advertisement is non-editorial, and is not considered to be mass media. It’s not meant to be examined in an intellectual or academic way by a wide audience, I guess. |

I’m happy I have a passion for photography and illustration. I’m glad I have a plan towards it, and that I have an opportunity to choose what I like. Actually, everyone does, for the most part; most people have the opportunity to choose what they like to do, what they enjoy. If most people have the chance to attend secondary school/high school, as I think most people in the world do, throughout all of the countries in the world—then I feel that this high school experience, this chance to attend high school, opens up the chance to go into any field that people want. It might require a few additional years of junior college or trade school or university, depending on the specific fields in question. But I feel that high school has a big role to play in career preparation, too. If some of the general education requirements could be waived for students who already have an interest in a specific field or subject matter, then they could be given the chance to get a head start in their areas of interest. It might help a lot with career preparation and training, and vocational education. 

#photography #illustration #visual art #photoshop #intro to photography # career essay   #creative work # creative professional # event photography # don’t be shy # go for it   #meeting new people # work # do what you love and love what you do # do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do # living intentionally # conscious living #choices # you can for sure be successful, it’s not only for the lucky few. # with god all things are possible # bi idhn illah