Portfolio Review and Graduation

Hey, everyone! It's been a long time since my last post and quite a bit has happened over the course of life that has taken up all of my time. Namely, finishing up school and getting ready for my Design Portfolio Review at Sinclair on June 4th, which is basically like an extended job interview with 3 different interviewers. I have to show my best work and be on my best behavior, while I talk about my work for 20 minutes (x3). I bet after all that talking, I'd be sick of looking at my designs. :D

There is an Open House after the formal proceedings, which start at 3PM and finally end around 7:30PM, which is when the Open House event starts (which if you'd like to come, you are more than welcome to stop by and look at my designs, as well as give me paying work so I can live! ;). Here's the link to the Open House I made on Facebook with all the info.

Graduation is a little over a week later. "The 2009 Sinclair Community College Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, June 12, 2009, at 6:45 p.m. at the University of Dayton Arena." If you'd like to come and support me, I'd really appreciate it. If you can't make it, I'd also appreciate any kind words (monetary gifts are ALWAYS appreciated! ;).

Bye for now, have lots of work to do!

Nevermind that last post!

Hmm, well, I spoke too soon, I guess. :( I told my supervisor, who I really liked and got along well with, that I wanted to know the possibility of working around my school schedule at the end of my second day. I was candid with her, and that might have my problem (but that's who I am), but when I left, there was no inkling that I would be hearing a few hours later that I was terminated.

This was very premature and an unfair decision on their part. I can understand that they wanted to do what's best for the company, but I made it clear that I was serious about this job and that, if I had to, would work around their schedule. I just wanted to let them know as soon as possible about this possible issue, and if they were going to be lenient about it. She clearly said that they could deviate from the set work hours, so I said I would handle it on my end.

I really enjoyed the job and the people I worked with, and I would have continued on there for the foreseeable future. It was challenging, it was a learning experience and the stress level and workload was just right: not too busy to feel like I couldn't handle it, and not too little to get bored. I pretty much jumped right in, and did a great job. My supervisor said she was sorry and that it wasn't her decision, but she really enjoyed working with me. I hope that in the future that there could still be a job there for me. For now, I'm going to find something a little more flexible and possibly short-term. I'm seriously considering taking a break and visiting my mother and helping her out on her farm in eastern Ohio. I'd love to visit my sister in Alaska, or my cousins in South Carolina, too.

A new job!

Well, God did bless me with a job. I did a few interviews this week and the end of last week. I found out about this job late Thursday of last week, loved the pay, sent my resume via email, got a call about it early the next morning (on Friday), then set up an interview for later that day (rescheduling another interview for this past Tuesday). Did the interview (thought it went great), then heard back from them on Monday that they wanted to offer me the job. I thought I would start next Tuesday, but they called me on Wednesday and asked if I could start yesterday. Today is my second day.

The pay is great, but the drive is far. It's not really graphic design, as in that it's not really "creative", but I am using my skills. So far, so good. Now, I'm just worried about my plans for finishing up school. I have to trust God, though, that He will provide and make everything work out for me. I have to keep going down this path if it's God's Will.

Thanks for praying for me everybody!

Work for the Summer

Well, this past quarter of school has been hectic, fun, crazy and eventful. I've met a lot of people in my classes, at work, and outside of work. It's been great, but I'm glad I have a bit of a break during this summer. I have five weeks where I don't have class, and I've been trying to get a better paying and more fulfilling job. I love working at school in the IT Labs, but it just doesn't pay enough and I'm not taking enough classes to work there in the summer.

I had a couple of good leads on getting a paid internship at a couple places, but they have fallen through and I've been looking elsewhere in the meantime. Right now, I've got an unpaid graphic design internship (that doesn't give me enough work) and a freelance graphic design job where, right now, I'm waiting to hear back from my boss on my schedule and assignments. I've also got a full-time paid position that I'm applying for. I'm working on getting my portfolio together, so I can give something out during interviews.

In my personal life, the person that I thought was "the one" turned out to be a false alarm. There was good potential there, but it obviously wasn't to be. I've learned that as much as I want it to happen, I can't force it and if anything, the more you want that to happen, the more it turns out to be false hope. I've taken my focus back on improving my life and my own personal character, and going back to church, getting counseling and being more active.

I'm focusing on making my relationships healthy and trying to relieve the pressure off of them, as well as adjusting relationships that put pressure on me. Someone whom I never thought would be back in my life has returned and I'm still getting adjusted to that. I'm glad to have a second chance to make it work, but at the same time, leery of repeating the same mistakes. At the same time, trying to correct our past and improving our future is something I'm trying to achieve. I've got great friends, and getting more all the time, so I feel blessed in that area. Now, I just need a job that works for me. :D

Summer is over!

Well, yesterday was my final meeting of my photography class (and I just updated my Flickr site with the 10 prints I scanned in for my final portfolio). I had to present my portfolio and afterwards I took my friend, Ben, down to Sima in Kettering, Ohio to eat some of the best sushi I've ever had. It was my second time going there and I really wanted to show Ben the place to celebrate the end of my class and to celebrate his birthday (which happened the week prior).

My photography class was hard, a lot of work, but I really liked it and everyone in my class and will miss them. The fall quarter starts up in about 2 weeks, so I don't have a lot of time to relax, but it's good to be free for a bit.

News on my Summer

Well, I decided that, me being lazy and comfortable with my current position, I'd stay working where I'm at. For both positions, I'd supposedly need to be actively taking classes, so it would be better (even though I'm sure the pay rate is lower) to be where I'm at already. Also, that extra tutor position might not go through as the classes I would be helping out with will most likely be canceled due to a lack of registered students.

I was in a bit of pickle with the classes being offered as the English class I wanted to take was only open and being offered by a teacher that isn't the best one (though I checked the next day and the one I wanted was open). Also, I was able to take a Photography class that is required by my degree, so I didn't have to take another unnecessary class again just to get my 6 credits. I bought my books online used, saved some money, but now the wait begins. Hopefully, they arrive before I actually need them. I also need to hunt down an 35 or 120mm film SLR, and get film and print paper by next Tuesday. That one might be kinda tough.

As for my last quarter, I finally finished up on Monday. That research paper was kickin' my ass, but I got it done and finished up my online class with a final exam. Then, on Tuesday, I did three 20 minute quizzes and the final exam all in one class period because I didn't think I would be there for the last class period yesterday due to my scheduled (but then later re-scheduled jury duty). I'm glad to be done, but already next week on Tuesday, I've got another English class to have to deal with, as well as the Photography class, with not even a week of rest between quarters.

I could have taken the summer off and gotten a real (better-paying job) and been happy, but I'd like to get my English out of the way and be done with it.

School days

Well, this quarter of school is almost over and I'm really glad to be (almost) done with my English class. The folks at Sinclair have asked me to become a tutor there teaching computers and helping out. The only problem is that I need to have (at least) 6 credit hours to take the job, or even continue working there as a student assistant.

I had plans to take my final English class (for my Associates degree) in the summer, but I'm not sure if I want to after 2 consecutive quarters of writing papers. That (along with Photography) would be the only classes I would be able to take, since I don't have anymore gen-ed classes to take. Most of the classes I need to take have prerequisites and they aren't always offered every quarter, so it has to be planned out in advance. If I am to follow the current schedule, I will be done in Spring 2009. I don't know if Photography is offered during the summer, but I will look into it as another class I could take to make up the required 6 credit hours needed to continue working.

There's also the pay and maximum amount of hours I can work at Sinclair. I'm paid minimum wage, and can't work more than 20 hours a week. I was looking at finding a better job (I found one posted for a nice one at Honda) and only taking English 113 online, but now I'm presented with another choice: do I want to sacrifice money or convenience.

Moving Friends, College Life

Well, this past weekend I helped my friend, Ben, move into his new place with his roommate. He had lots of help and I feel exhausted, but I'm glad he got such a nice place and I hope to visit him up there often (time and schedule permitting).

I'm settling into college life and this will be my third quarter back after my long hiatus. I'm taking it easy right now mainly due to the limited window I can take my classes. I'm taking English Composition II right now and it's a pain in the ass. I'm glad the rest of my schedule is so lax, therefore I can really not be stressed out about the commitment it takes to write these papers. It's my first class online at my current college and it's a bit different.

After ENG-112, I'm planning to take ENG-113 (my last english course for my degree) in the summer online. Once I get done with that, I'll be done with all of my gen-ed classes out of the way and I'll just have fun classes left. Photoshop, photography, 3D software; I'd already taken these at my old college, but Sinclair isn't taking my transfer credit for them, which kind of sucks. I have about 2 more years to do, and I was quite a ways to getting my Assosciates Degree before, so it kind of feels like I'm starting over from scratch. At least they took almost all of my gen-ed classes.

On the personal front, still single and I have a friend who will be soon, as well. He's going through a difficult divorce right now and I've had to keep him company and try to be there for him through this rough time. It's hard trying to give advice in a situation you have no knowledge of. The best I can give him is just to keep seeing his counselor, get a lawyer, keep working out at the gym, and keep praying. It looks like he'll be moving soon, too, so I'll help him move again. I think I've helped him move over 5 times now.

Next Step: (?)

Well, I've taken another quarter on, but I'm taking this one a little easier. It's winter and I don't have the best snow tires or vehicle, so I've taken my classes closer to home (very close in fact).

I've also landed a job at school. The pay and hours aren't the best, but it should be a good experience. I'm also working for the government now. Oooh, scary!

Out of school (for now) ... on to the next step

My brother, Thomas, has another benefit concert happening on December 16th at the Oregon Express in Dayton. This is helping raise funds to help him pay his medical bills he incurred after his stroke.

There have been a few and this should be the first one that I would be able to attend, as I was just too busy with school projects previously. It should be fun. Here's the banner ad he supplied me, but it's impossible to even read what's going on in the ad (too fast). Go to the website if you want info.

The right way (or the highway)

I'm so sick of I-75 that I've sworn off using it in the foresee-able future (especially going to/from school).

Going down to class the past couple of weeks, the traffic has been pretty heavy, and sometimes I've had to watch out for very slow or stopped traffic, but last Thursday, going down to college, I was stuck for over an hour making me late for class by about an hour. Then, yesterday, I just happened to be up in the morning (well, actually I stayed up night, but that's another issue). I saw a news story about a 7-car accident on I-75 causing delays, so I took that into account when I was finally ready to go down to campus and found alternate routes off of the highway if there was any sign of traffic. Well, there was none, so I kept on right through, though there was no shortage of asshole drivers.

Well, after being up (and having done a rigorous exercise routine earlier in the day), I barely made it through my professor's boring lecture, so I was absolutely ready to go home as quick as possible and I've never had any problem going I-75 North from Dayton, so I thought I'd be fine. Boy, was I wrong!

At about the Needmore exit, traffic began piling up and came to a complete stop. This was somewhat understandable as they have been doing construction work on the I-70/I-75 Interchange, and the left-most lane has been closed for a while (though none of the asshole drivers know how to read the sign and expected us to let them in or suffer an accident; I have a guideline: if you don't have your turn-signal on, then you don't get in front of me). This would have made for some sketchy situations as per usual, but tonight both left lanes were closed and they didn't tell us beforehand. So, the lane that I was in was closed as well and, even using my turn-signal, I barely made it over before I absolutely had to change lanes (people don't seem to follow my rule of being courteous to drivers who signal when they change lanes).

I was stuck in traffic for about an hour and it was down to one lane at the I-70/I-75 Interchange, with people merging in making it even more dangerous. Then, when the whole merging over business was done with, traffic seemed to pick the pace, though we couldn't really go that fast, as the lanes were bordered closely with cones and the lanes were moving past construction workers.

Finally, the construction ended right before the exit I was going to take. I was so frustrated by this inconvenience, but I was glad to past the trouble spot and was dreaming of my couch & bed. Well, the route I was taking was closed due to construction at the railroad tracks, so I had to take a detour north for quite a ways and the next route I could take was at another road with a railroad crossing, which unfortunately had a train crossing it when I finally got up to it. Just one delay after another.

At this time, I had to take a leak really badly, so I put it in reverse and kept on Hyatt and decided to drop in on where my brother's staying, though when it looked like nobody was there, I decided to head to Burger King to use the facilities and get some food. Then, while I was waiting for my food, I must have been standing there for about 15 min., though there there was nobody else in line.

Not all was bad yesterday, though: I saw Dan's friend, Enrique at the Sinclair library (with his Asian classmate he has a crush on). I was able to get my paper done, make copies, though I left my Tartan card in the copy machine and nearly forgot it because I was in such a hurry to finish my paper and make it to class. I noticed it wasn't in my wallet when I was buying Starbucks. Somebody had taken it out of the machine and set it on top. Then, on the way to class, I saw a friend I used to work with at Menlo. I hadn't seen him in months, but I couldn't really stop to talk. I made it to class, and the professor surprising let all us study the terms before our quiz for a few minutes. Without doing so, I would have bombed it worse than I had the previous one.

School, work, sleep(?)

Well, I haven't posted in a while, but that's isn't because I haven't had anything to say. Currently, I'm in my second week of college (first time back in about 5 years), and still working, though my job I've been at for nearly 5 months will be over next week (they're moving operations to Columbus, OH).

There's been hard things to deal with at this job, but there isn't much stress involved and it's close to home. After I get out of work, I have an hour to drive down to Sinclair Community College in Dayton. This quarter is my first time at Sinclair (I'm a transfer student) and it was a little scary trying to find my way around campus and finding the best parking spot, but my classes meet only once a week, so I can leave my homework for the weekends if I don't have any energy left after work on the weekdays.

I just got fitted for a tuxedo I'm going to be renting for my brother's wedding in about a month. This will be the first wedding I've not got to sit in the audience for (I'm one of the groomsman).

Okay, I'm tired and I'll end it now before I spend all night on this entry. Later!

Addition: I almost forgot to say something about my birthday which is September 14th. I'm writing this on the 23rd and I still haven't gotten to do really anything for my birthday, or received any presents. : ( I'll change that though in the near future.