“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge
We often forget the power of hard work and perseverance which is often attributed to us comparing the behind the scenes struggles we have to other people’s highlight reels. Each of us has a journey that is tailored specifically to our needs and circumstances. It’s about trusting the process and not giving up on yourself.
When I was a kid all I wanted to do is draw characters and would even find time in school to doodle while in class. My imagination was so vivid, and I would even create new characters based off of television programs I had watched in my childhood. As I became older my passion for drawing and art had dwindled a bit becoming more of a chore. It wasn’t until college that things started to turn around again.
A mentor of mine in high school had urged me to get a degree in Computer Graphics Technology as he had seen potential in the work I had done in his visual communications class. As an aspiring designer and student in Multimedia I have learned the importance of persistence and perseverance. Our industry there are many opportunities to overcome these obstacles and also share your personal story through the work you create. Going through this process has taught me a lot about myself and helped me uncover things that I hadn’t seen introspectively before.
I have become passionate about branding and logos as the semester has progressed and it has really made me work harder at refining my skills. I was given the opportunity to help create a logo for my cousin as she has started a hair extension company. This has also created more opportunities for other potential clients. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop have been the two main applications I use for my work.
Being proficient is good in many applications but the most important thing for me has become the ability to learn new things. With this I have seen improvements and have applied what I’ve learned to my personal career in music as well. I do a lot of personal work for my own brand but doing this has made me able to adhere to the needs of my clients more as well.
I am a naturally driven person and throughout my tenure in high school I was a varsity captain on the men’s track and field team. We had earned three consecutive state championships in which the latter I directly contributed most with a win in the 3200 meter relay. Being apart of a prestigious athletic program and on a championship team has helped me acquire many different skills. I am a team player, leader whenever a situation calls for me to lead, proactive, better at listening, a good communicator, and better with getting stuff done.
Not only do I think my skills and work qualify me for this program but also my life experiences. I have also been working as a barista trainer, working as a recording artist while balancing a 17 hour credit semester during a pandemic which isn’t anything to scoff at. Going back to the beginning quote persistence and perseverance have gotten me where I am and I hope that it will continue to land me in the midst of like minded colleagues that will challenge me.