Fall means changes.
It's been forever and a day since I've written in here. Srsly, I need to change this. I know I say that every time I make a silly post, but srsly, self. Srsly.
Anyway, it was decided a few months ago that I couldn't return to Purchase. It was out of our money-range, and the DT program just wasn't what I thought it would be. It was fun, the work was decent - hard at times, what with Production and all - but I lasted. I could've gone back this year, despite what I know more than one person would have wanted. (Read: Katy Freeman.)
No, I won't miss the program. What will I miss? My friends - all of them. The ones who graduated, the ones who transferred, and worst of all - the ones who I know will still be there, while I'm still here on Long Island. It isn't far in the slightest. Two train trips and $25, and I'm home at Purchase again for a weekend. (A notion I plan on molding into a vague routine, actually.) But that doesn't scratch out all the 1am runs to the hub on Saturday nights, trying to make it before it closes - nor does it make up for all the puddles I won't be leaping to avoid, or the Starbucks I won't be living above with Mik.
Mom feels bad that I can't go back, but that doesn't mask her enthusiasm about me staying home this year. I ask myself if I couldn't have gone back, just to take a LAS course, or take Graphic Design there. I know they have a great program for it, but it wouldn't be fair to my parents. I'm scheduled, now, to graduate in December of next year with my associates, though since I bumped up my credit load to max, (18, without the Dean's permission), taking the max next semester, and another 15 next summer semester (classes at Briarcliffe continue year-round), I'll be graduating next August. Less than a year from today, actually. So a two-year degree in one says a lot.
One, it tells my parents that, no, I don't need to be babied anymore. I have plans that... unfortunately... don't really involve New York in the near future. I'd love to return some day when I'm older - when I have the skill behind me to support myself in what I want to do, and when I know I can make enough to live here. Long Island is hella expensive...
And two, I want to move to California as soon as I graduate. I have friends there who work heavily with theater people, and I've already been near-promised a job working with them. Is theater realistic for the kind of lifestyle I want when I'm older? No - not by a long shot, which was another deciding factor in leaving Purchase. I was told when I started there that the Design/Tech program was the only reason I was there. Even though it was a state school, we didn't have the money to throw away at me going away somewhere when I could do the same thing on the Island.
What will I likely do after Briarcliffe? Well, the way it looks now - the way I'd -like- it to go... I get to specialize my graphic design degree. I'm going to specialize it towards animation. With that, I plan on moving to California, probably attend a school out there while I work with a company to help pay for it. I'll likely specialize in animation and game design - as much as I hate to admit it, especially to certain people. (Read: Katy Freeman.)
Or? Who knows. Maybe I'll take my business proposal to a bunch of rich investment bankers and start the company that's been haunting my -dreams-. (No, I won't tell you what it is, but it's glorious. Realistic, too. Just need some business courses to make my decision for me...)
Regardless, I need a change of scenery. Long Island has it's extreme pros and it's extreme cons. There is no middle ground, and unfortunately, I work best in middle ground - so that I can make my own extremes.
I am going to miss Purchase, though. The memories I formed there will stick with me for-fucking-ever. Both good (mostly good), and the bad. (Read: Katy Freeman.)
Anyway, it was decided a few months ago that I couldn't return to Purchase. It was out of our money-range, and the DT program just wasn't what I thought it would be. It was fun, the work was decent - hard at times, what with Production and all - but I lasted. I could've gone back this year, despite what I know more than one person would have wanted. (Read: Katy Freeman.)
No, I won't miss the program. What will I miss? My friends - all of them. The ones who graduated, the ones who transferred, and worst of all - the ones who I know will still be there, while I'm still here on Long Island. It isn't far in the slightest. Two train trips and $25, and I'm home at Purchase again for a weekend. (A notion I plan on molding into a vague routine, actually.) But that doesn't scratch out all the 1am runs to the hub on Saturday nights, trying to make it before it closes - nor does it make up for all the puddles I won't be leaping to avoid, or the Starbucks I won't be living above with Mik.
Mom feels bad that I can't go back, but that doesn't mask her enthusiasm about me staying home this year. I ask myself if I couldn't have gone back, just to take a LAS course, or take Graphic Design there. I know they have a great program for it, but it wouldn't be fair to my parents. I'm scheduled, now, to graduate in December of next year with my associates, though since I bumped up my credit load to max, (18, without the Dean's permission), taking the max next semester, and another 15 next summer semester (classes at Briarcliffe continue year-round), I'll be graduating next August. Less than a year from today, actually. So a two-year degree in one says a lot.
One, it tells my parents that, no, I don't need to be babied anymore. I have plans that... unfortunately... don't really involve New York in the near future. I'd love to return some day when I'm older - when I have the skill behind me to support myself in what I want to do, and when I know I can make enough to live here. Long Island is hella expensive...
And two, I want to move to California as soon as I graduate. I have friends there who work heavily with theater people, and I've already been near-promised a job working with them. Is theater realistic for the kind of lifestyle I want when I'm older? No - not by a long shot, which was another deciding factor in leaving Purchase. I was told when I started there that the Design/Tech program was the only reason I was there. Even though it was a state school, we didn't have the money to throw away at me going away somewhere when I could do the same thing on the Island.
What will I likely do after Briarcliffe? Well, the way it looks now - the way I'd -like- it to go... I get to specialize my graphic design degree. I'm going to specialize it towards animation. With that, I plan on moving to California, probably attend a school out there while I work with a company to help pay for it. I'll likely specialize in animation and game design - as much as I hate to admit it, especially to certain people. (Read: Katy Freeman.)
Or? Who knows. Maybe I'll take my business proposal to a bunch of rich investment bankers and start the company that's been haunting my -dreams-. (No, I won't tell you what it is, but it's glorious. Realistic, too. Just need some business courses to make my decision for me...)
Regardless, I need a change of scenery. Long Island has it's extreme pros and it's extreme cons. There is no middle ground, and unfortunately, I work best in middle ground - so that I can make my own extremes.
I am going to miss Purchase, though. The memories I formed there will stick with me for-fucking-ever. Both good (mostly good), and the bad. (Read: Katy Freeman.)