Ok, I guess I was a little too ambitious. I really thought I would get another post in before 2008 ended. Here that post is, a few days late.
My reflection on 2008 started shortly after I arrived back on the East Coast nearly three weeks ago. This is an excerpt from an email I wrote to my boss:
“I’m sitting on a bus to meet my girlfriends in the Upper East Side, reflecting on the past 6 months of my life, have I made the right decisions, what would my life be like if I had chosen to do things differently–And I’ve remembered where I was a year ago, where I was 6 months ago, and the fact I was thisclose to leaving Infuse Creative, packing up, and moving to Brooklyn after graduation. Where would I be now, with the economy in the tubes, a recent grad with an art degree struggling to find a job in cold, hard NYC. Sure, I would be near my closest friends and family, but there’s only so far that can get you.”
2008 started out as wonderfully as it could get. I was in a relationship I enjoyed, I had a month off from school until my last semester started. I spent that last semester eating, breathing, and sleeping my design portfolio. In true Melissa fashion, I refused to pick out my favorite works, photograph them, and slip prints into a black case. I poured everything into it. I created a portfolio book inspired by recipe books since my other passion is food. It was my baby.
Again, true to myself, I had dreams of working in a studio specializing in food packaging. I had (still have) several picked out throughout the Bay Area, NYC, and London. Studios that were comprised of five people with decades of experience. Unlike my usual self, I didn’t even attempt to get a job with them. The closest I got was talking to the CEO of an English company that designs all of Fresh and Easy’s packaging. I let it go.
Something within me made me decide to stay with Infuse Creative and work towards becoming an Account Manager. Some forces I know and will not admit, others I’m not to sure of. Four months after graduation I still had not been able to take any steps towards becoming an Account Manager, rather, I had been handed the opportunity to start a design department and act as creative director.
My last semester was great, I spent as much time with my friends as I could, the morning of graduation was as sentimental as it could be.
My summer, not so great, I really cannot think of many memorable moments other than coming home to visit friends, going to Long Beach Island with some of my favorite people, and suffering heartache.
It was a difficult year, it was a good year. A year of accomplishment. Success. Hard work. Dedication. Passion.
My plans for 2009? Success. Success and happiness. That’s all I want.
I just found out one of my old teammates from Chapman Crew is spending a year in Amsterdam. I am incredibly inspired and yet a bit despondent from the realization I won’t get to experience living in another country for at least a few years to come.
About two months ago, I decided I would move to London in the latter part of 2009 and had begun researching ways to secure a visa and work abroad programs. Well, a few short weeks later, I was offered the opportunity to become a partner in the business I have worked for the past three years, starting my own graphic design department and acting as owner/creative director. That’s obviously an offer I cannot pass up.
London will still be there in a few years. Perhaps I’ll score a permanent high-level position in a studio there, rather than the temporary one I was hoping for in 2009…
Regardless, I wish Shannon lots of happiness and luck!!
