Adjusting...

It's been a while since I've had a chance to sleep well let alone write. I went to bed at 8 (pm) last night and woke up at 11. Then went to bed again and woke up at 8. So, that shows you how fatigued my body is. I think I'm adjusted finally and I've realized that all I can do with time is spend it doing work. I don't have a choice to work or not work because if I choose not to, I'll be behind. I'm doing my best to produce good work while I'm here. I always put a lot into every project I do, however doing that here at Ringling is like suicide. You just don't have enough time to make everything just like you want it. Well you do, but it means you can't go out, can't waste time and can't relax. It's not quite what I expected coming down here to Florida for the winter.

Everyone up north is totally jealous of me right now. I would be too. But, hey, being me down here while I'm in school doesn't mean party party. To me it means, I'm in my third year trying to make some good pieces to put in my portfolio. It all comes down to being a designer. You need to make your project your baby. That's your mission. Own your work. Work hard and take advantage of the fact that you're not designing for a client but you have the freedom to be creative, experimental and free with what you create. It's for you, not for anyone else.

I like it here. I like the classes. I think it took me a couple weeks to adjust to the new environment. I take back what I said about the "not learning as much as I would if I were at OCAD" comment I made in my last post. I've already learnt a lot within the short three week period that I've been down here. Maybe it's due to the school hours and the fact that we meet twice a week. Maybe it's because we're expected to do a lot of work here. Maybe it's because I'm growing as a designer and you learn more as you grow.

I'm very happy with all the teachers. I think they're great. I have nothing negative to say. They all know their stuff. They're cool people. There's good projects that you can put right in your portfolio if you work hard on them and make them look good. Lots of potential here if you're a hard worker.

Today we had an AIGA (a Student Group meeting. I'm a member of the AIGA because I was forced to become one when I wanted to enter one of their writing competitions. Then I was told that I couldn't enter due to the fact that I don't live in the US. So my writing wasn't even eligible and... I paid $75. I just left it and didn't bother getting a refund and just thought that maybe I'll get something out of being a member. So now that I'm down here, I can actually use that membership.
We discussed some of the things we can do with the group, planning potential dates to visit studios and events. It was our first meeting but I think if enough people show to each one, we can actually get it going and start going to places, which should be really fun. We don't have anything like that up in Toronto so I'm glad I can somehow join some group here, even though I have so little time.

I went to a Native American pow wow last weekend with my roommate Sarah. It was pretty interesting. I got a chance to just hang out with her and we had a great time. Later we went out with a couple of her good friends to a Thai restaurant and I really enjoyed that as well. I like meeting people outside of school. It takes you away from your daily schedule and you talk about subjects totally unrelated to design. I'm also starting to get used to the kids at school. Hopefully I'll get a chance to hang out. It's so great not having a car. You become handicapped. I like being handicapped because I like to stay home and work. Maybe because I've already been doing that before I got here, so it doesn't feel like I'm handicapped. The only difference is that I chose to lock myself and not relax, but here it's really not a choice. Not having a car really limits you with what you can do and where you can go and when you can go. I've never had an urge to get my license because I just love the Toronto Transit (See my Typography project last semester on redesigning the map and logo) I never needed to get a car, now I realize how important it is when you're in city's like Sarasota, or pretty much anywhere else that's not a metropolitan city. First thing on my TO DO list when I go back home: GET LICENSE AND LEARN HOW TO DRIVE!