A marine biologist so I can work at Sea World.
A zoologist so I can work at a zoo.
A teacher so I can make a difference.
A photographer because its the only thing I can't see myself ever getting sick of.
These were all answers I had to that question you get a million times early on in life "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I remember being in college and stydying photography and graphic design thinking 'what the heck am I going to do with this degree?" Which was a good question. I had decided to study photography because there was nothing else I could stomach the idea of going to school for 4 years for. Photography had always been something that I enjoyed and the idea of sitting in class rooms for 4 years talking about something like economics made me want to cry. Once I was in college I added graphic design as a minor because I enjoy typography and creative designs. I still to this day find myself oogaling over fonts just cuz they are so cool (yup i'm a nerd). I figured that graphic design was something I could actually do after school and possibly make a little money to start paying back those student loans. I guess I was also a little worried that photography wasn't going to be lucrative. Starving artist on the street corner asking for change anyone?
After two years in college I realized just how much I enjoyed helping other kids in the dark room. It was an amazing feeling to show a photo one student how to fix his exposure and know that I was helping. This was one of the first times I truly considered teaching. I threw around the idea of going to grad school so that I could teach college, I thought about returning to my high school to teach photography (unfortunately they have all but given up on their photo program). I thought about teaching at summer camps, local adult education centers etc but really what it comes down to just wanting to be able to help others.
I talk a lot- no really A LOT!!! Just ask my friends and family, I pretty much never shut up. I know teachers need to listen as well as speak which for me might be the biggest challenge. I've set a goal to be a leader in my field. I want to speak at photography conferences, I want to be a mentor for other photographers. I want to teach and inspire, and hopefully along the way learn a lot of things I don't know. I may not be there yet but I'm hoping in a few years I will be in a place where people will be excited to hear me speak and I can start a dialogue about photography.
XOXO Spring
