Nat, I don't have advice for you, but I'd like to share about my picking-a-major crisis and crap for whatever it's worth.
When I started out a freshman at Dordt, I was in the pre-med program because I had always liked science, and had been decent at it. And even though I enjoyed my science classes, I knew immediately that I didn't want to be a doctor. I had, on the other hand, always been good at writing. I ended up picking english as a major and removing myself from the pre-med program. Now that I was an english major, I was surrounded by literary-minded folks who adored shakespeare and delved so deeply into literary interpretation, they dug past the meaning and straight to China. This was a major 180° from the scientific method of my previous emphasis. Writing was always something I had been good at, but the word 'passion' never really crossed my mind. I knew I took delight in a well-formed sentence and clearly communicated meaning, I enjoyed metaphor and similie, but only as much as they were able to articulate a thought. I never was big on Shakespeare, I went though the whole college experience without taking a single Shakespeare class. In the end, I had a piece of signed paper and a mind that could now think critically and articulate that thought. But I didn't know how to spin that degree into gold. And I started working a the apple store. Now I'm a genius, and I troubleshoot computers all day. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows to get there, but it's where I'm at now. And I'm doing something I enjoy, that isn't english-major related.
I still like writing, you know that from the bits of scribbled nonsense you've been kind enough to read. A well-crafted sentence gives me joy and delight. And if your drawing gives you delight, then it only seems reasonable to do what brings you joy all of your days. As for making it a major, well that sounds stressful to me, since you're taking the talent you delight in, and then honing your skill at it. I didn't like writing papers. (I also didn't like RE-writing papers). But through that arduous practice of articulation on paper was taking my talent and teaching it some finesse.
I, of course, think your sketches are terrifyingly amusing and you should continue doing them for as long as I have eyes to see them. (I have no intention of going blind.) As for making it your major, that is a tough decision. I think its a lie out there that you should turn what you like into your job. Because sometimes there's jobs out there you don't know you're gonna like that have nothing to do with what you like to do in your spare time. There's lots of stuff out there to do Nat, with or without an art degree in hand.
Whoa, I thought I had replied to this. I guess I didn't hit "post comment". :O Sorry Rosie!
I really appreciate you telling me your story. Your writing is fabulous. I'm afraid i'm still unsure of myself, but hopefully that will change in due time.
When I started out a freshman at Dordt, I was in the pre-med program because I had always liked science, and had been decent at it. And even though I enjoyed my science classes, I knew immediately that I didn't want to be a doctor. I had, on the other hand, always been good at writing. I ended up picking english as a major and removing myself from the pre-med program. Now that I was an english major, I was surrounded by literary-minded folks who adored shakespeare and delved so deeply into literary interpretation, they dug past the meaning and straight to China. This was a major 180° from the scientific method of my previous emphasis. Writing was always something I had been good at, but the word 'passion' never really crossed my mind. I knew I took delight in a well-formed sentence and clearly communicated meaning, I enjoyed metaphor and similie, but only as much as they were able to articulate a thought. I never was big on Shakespeare, I went though the whole college experience without taking a single Shakespeare class. In the end, I had a piece of signed paper and a mind that could now think critically and articulate that thought. But I didn't know how to spin that degree into gold. And I started working a the apple store. Now I'm a genius, and I troubleshoot computers all day. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows to get there, but it's where I'm at now. And I'm doing something I enjoy, that isn't english-major related.
I still like writing, you know that from the bits of scribbled nonsense you've been kind enough to read. A well-crafted sentence gives me joy and delight. And if your drawing gives you delight, then it only seems reasonable to do what brings you joy all of your days. As for making it a major, well that sounds stressful to me, since you're taking the talent you delight in, and then honing your skill at it. I didn't like writing papers. (I also didn't like RE-writing papers). But through that arduous practice of articulation on paper was taking my talent and teaching it some finesse.
I, of course, think your sketches are terrifyingly amusing and you should continue doing them for as long as I have eyes to see them. (I have no intention of going blind.) As for making it your major, that is a tough decision. I think its a lie out there that you should turn what you like into your job. Because sometimes there's jobs out there you don't know you're gonna like that have nothing to do with what you like to do in your spare time. There's lots of stuff out there to do Nat, with or without an art degree in hand.
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I really appreciate you telling me your story. Your writing is fabulous. I'm afraid i'm still unsure of myself, but hopefully that will change in due time.
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