~ edit ~ okay.. I put it all back.. ;)Hey Faith. You are missed here too. It was great to see you at the show, and to get to hang out for a bit. I’m glad to hear that you will be transferring to the other college. That was what the drawing teacher was telling you when he said that maybe you should try the college of Letters and Science. I went researching it all (wrote this before in a different post) and found that they have a better foundational art program there - what you are looking for. I have also spoken to a couple people who know the program there and their thoughts are that it is not for you, so you are doing the right thing. I’m not sure of what validity the conceptual college has, but I suppose that’s an oxymoron anyway. It seems that even the instruction is conceptual, but he did give you good advice in the beginning, and I’m glad you’re taking it now. I’m also very glad that something there has spawned a solid work ethic. With as much experiential examples Ron or I could have shown you before you left, I suppose it was a bit too early to truly see (also because we don’t tend to go on about ourselves too much either) and I’m glad that something clicked there amidst other more frustrating circumstances, and that you are seeing that now. This is becoming even more engrained in you than it was before, and that’s when things start to come together. You’re making sure that what you love to do is the first and foremost thing in your life. I have written and re-written you since your last post, and I can’t seem to narrow down all the things that I would like to say. I think the fact that we used to see each other almost every day, and those times when we used to hang out after class and talk were really great because we could go on about so many things. Sometimes putting it in writing is so difficult without feeling like I’m just blathering (did I just say that?) on or sounding too preachy. So I apologize if I ever do, but let me say just this (and then elaborate a little): You are responsible for your own experiences – or lack there of. And sometimes the toughest thing about being a creative person is accepting it and getting used to it. Just as everyone does, you have thoughts, opinions, your own voice, your own temperament, preferences, likes, dislikes, (I could go on).. and most of all, you are aware. Sometimes your awareness hurts, is extremely frustrating, or can even make you feel very alone. This will happen occasionally. But to take the route of boredom over those feelings that awareness gives you, would be far from who you are. Just don’t fight it so much, and it won’t hurt so much. The fighting comes from other voices. Listen to yours. All of this has more to do with living, and less to do with a career path. Choosing to put art in your life as a constant is more a choice that has to do with living and less to do with a career path. The other parts work themselves out. (and btw, it has nothing to do with luck either, no matter what any person who doesn’t understand this would have you believe). Remember when you were asking everyone’s advice a while back about whether you should stay here in Encinitas, or go away to college. You had a ton of people that were giving you advice. All said to go. Some of us really gave it some thought, and to some, it was an automatic. As much as we all would like to tell you what we think might happen based on our own experiences, I think you are finding that out on your own, and I am glad. That’s why you had to go, and eventually you may go again but somewhere else - and you will find things out on your own. Not that we’re not all here for you. We are and we always will be – wherever you go, and whatever you do.
