Dear Student,
I’ve been out of school for a little over 6 months now and still haven’t adjusted to the real world. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing what I do, but there are challenges and mental barriers to cross when transitioning from a student to a full-time worker. Here are some revelations I have encountered during the last few months that might be helpful in your transition:
Get accustomed to working 8-5. The staying up past 3 a.m. nights—while chowing down on Ramen noodles and working on designs—are slowly coming to an end. It’s difficult knowing that you will be stuck in an office all day, but the thought of doing what you love should be incentive enough to keep on truckin’.
Realize that every project won’t be exciting or portfolio worthy. Most of the projects I worked on in college were fun to brainstorm and develop. Now, a lot of my work consists of small jobs that require fast turn around. As someone who frequents portfolio sites and blogs often, I developed a false impression that my work would constantly be as fun and creative as the work on those sites. Every now and then, a project will come along that inspires you and re-ignites your passion, so fear not.
Learn to communicate the value of your skill-set. When you associate with other art students constantly, you often forget that others don’t perceive the value of design similarly. Learn to communicate the meaning behind your work and how it will benefit your employer. Organizations like AIGA have numerous resources to help designers better communicate their value in the marketplace.
You’re just starting your educational journey. College is not the end of your education, it’s the beginning. The day you stop learning is the day you stagnate and loose your value. Every week, stay abreast of what’s going on with new technologies and design trends. Use websites like Lynda.com to keep your knowledge fresh.
Every job experience is different. These are just a few things I have realized working as an in-house designer that might help you. Keep pushing the scope of your creativity. Good luck!
Ireland has given me the chance to explore centuries year old castles, enjoy nightlife with the locals in picturesque cities, kiss a stone for luck, and see natural wonders like the Cliffs of Moher & Ring of Kerry. As I sit here reflecting on this journey, I realize that amidst the hustle & bustle of being in transit, I haven’t given myself time to process the grandeur of these experiences. As a kid, I dreamed about destinations like this, but never thought I’d be here as I am now.
Tonight, I decided to give myself some alone time in the hotel lobby so that I could relax and contemplate everything. The hotel has a modern feel and the lobby adjoins a restaurant/bar area. The lobby area seemed surprisingly busy for a Monday night, with a variance of young & old people of different nationalities.
As I sat there, I overheard two local guys behind me mention the word photography. I turned and asked, “I couldn’t help but overhearing, did you say photography is your profession?” Bingo, slam-dunk; sha-zam. Here I was, sitting amongst two professional product photographers. I conversed with them about the type of work they do, what the industry is like in Ireland, and their recommendations for places to visit before I leave. What were the chances of meeting two local guys with such similar interests?! This random occurrence ranks among my top experiences here in Ireland.
This just goes to show you that opportunities await all around us. We all hold the key to unlocking great conversation with people if we have the courage to open it.
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At Ring of Kerry
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I didn’t feel much like writing yesterday. It was rainy most of the day. We visited sites such as the Waterford Crystal company and Blarney Castle.
Today was sunny with a few showers. We traveled around the Ring of Kerry. Words can’t describe how beautiful it was (pics/video to come). Following that, a few of us took a horse & buggy ride around Killarney. It’s 6:20 pm here now. Tomorrow we’re heading toward Galway, stopping along the way at places like the Cliffs of Moher.
Full Irish Breakfast, yum :) (Taken with instagram)