Just Build a House

Several weeks ago, some co-workers and I got together after work for drinks, and being the self-described "whippersnapper" of the group (love that word!), I, along with my whole generation got a severe tongue-lashing about our general attitude of entitlement. Huh? I was no different from any other spoiled brat who is told that she's spoiled. No one ever thinks that they're spoiled. After a minute, I had no choice but to agree with her. We ARE spoiled. Perhaps not with money and worldly possessions, but we are certainly spoiled with promises and ideals. How many of us grew up believing that not only could we be whatever we wanted to be when we grew up, but that all it took to be happy was going to a good college and getting a good job afterward? It's not that simple, and maybe I can't speak for everyone, but I know I'm floundering.

I find college to be a waste of time, if what you're looking for is a means to an end. That little piece of paper might help you get a job, but then again, it might not. My generation picked a terrible time to graduate from college. Just months after my graduation, the economy tanked, and tons of people were out of jobs. I had friends with master's degrees trying to find ANY kind of job, only to be turned down because they were overqualified.

I have mixed feelings about my own college experience. I didn't know what I wanted to do after high school. For the first time, my life was not being structured for me, and that was absolutely terrifying. I had to pick a career that I would do for the rest of my life, and if you had any idea how hard it is for me to commit to a pair of shoes, you'd understand how I literally got depressed over trying to pick a school and a major. I had so many interests, but I finally decided to go with an art school. But what major? I found a course catalog from the Savannah College of Art and Design (or SCAD for short), and I saw that they offered Visual Effects as a major. As in special effects for movies. My interest was piqued, and I decided that that was what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

My GPA in high school had been a 3.7. I didn't even have to try to get A's in high school. College was a rude awakening. Suddenly, I had to study for more than ten minutes to absorb the information I'd be tested on. My major courses were mostly nightmares. A few profs couldn't teach to save their lives. I changed my major after my first VSFX course. I got a C in that course. A C! It was partly pride that made me change. I thought I'd do better in another major. The prof from that course had noticed my struggle, and after finding out that I was interested in 3D modeling, he suggested I change my major to animation. I wish I hadn't listened. I am no animator. A couple more C's followed that first one from VSFX. It seemed that every time I wondered if I should quit and do something else, something would go right, and I'd stick with it. Unfortunately, my school only offered one modeling course, and with the rest of my courses focusing on the actual animating aspect of the industry, I got precious little practice.  With the ending of my senior year, I came to the horrible realization that I didn't have a portfolio.  I decided to stick out a year in Savannah to stay near my then boyfriend and work on my portfolio.  Then the economy tanked, I lost my job at the bank, and I had to move back to Indiana.

When I think of my former boss/friend who didn’t have a college education but was raking in $8,000 a month for doing nothing because he had a great idea for social media, I can feel a little bitter about my own life and the choices I’ve made. College didn’t get me what I thought I would get. In fact, I have to agree with what one of my co-workers said. He called college a “societal hoop to jump through.” With so many majors and goals, I feel that learning on the job makes much more sense than trying to learn from a classroom. Especially with the amount of money involved. (As a fellow “scaddie” and former film major said, “I went to school and realized I could have gotten my education just from buy buying books. I bought books and realized I could have Googled and read for free. I got on set and realized I could have just used common sense and taught myself. It really all comes down to a great Christopher Walken quote, ‘If you want to learn... how to build a house, then build a house. Don't ask anyone, just, build a house.’”

My college degree didn’t give me what I thought I wanted. I did learn how to think for myself. I learned how to live on my own (I had to do my own laundry for the first time!). I learned to adapt. Being so far from home forced me to break out of my comfort zone and be more outgoing. I made some AMAZING friends that inspire me. I miss all of you so much. It helped shape me into who I am today, and while I may find so many things about college to rant about, I think it was worth it in the end.