I am the complete opposite of my older brother. I never was good in academics, never in a gifted program for academics, never went to a 4 year university and graduated within the 4 years, never was able to gain a stable job like he has. He was the first born any parent would want. He succeeded in life and I always looked up to him when I was young, but I never got to where he is. I’m now 26 years old, who freelances here and there (and it’s not that much), went to a community college for 5 years (got carried away with semester year of studio classes) got an AA, only really had one job, but quit because of school, and still searching for a job just for income. I never gained a BA. I always wanted to transfer to a art school, but it never happened due to the fact I cannot even afford it at all. I had such a tug and pull during the years at the community college, first I was going to go into animation (was working towards a transfer), then I discovered graphic design existed (which is what I got totally into,) then a cousin who was in graphic design as a career appointed me to product design because I had such a grasp for three-dimensional form. I really love making stuff three-dimensional objects in physical form, I also have a real nack for packaging as well.
(This was something I made recently for a friend for her birthday a card stock camera, but it doesn’t work like a camera.)
(There wasn’t a bag for the appropriate size so I just made one.. I got really carried away as you can see.)
(The process it took me to get there. Sketches, making mock ups with making templates I made in illustrator, then final product.)
After making this really took me back how I really love just creating things. It may be more of a crafts sort of thing, but product design highly interests me. Every time I just make something it reminds me (like when I made a baneling plushie.) It reminds me of my passion of creating things.
My mind always goes through a vicious cycle wanting to go transfer to an art school and go through a product design program, but it never happens because I am just broke with no job. It’s hard to even gain a graphic design job because of real life experience in that area I lack, even with my decent portfolio. I know if I truly want to go back to school, I will have to do nothing but loans, and I will just been up the neck in debt by the time I graduate, even if I gain a part time job. That’s what frightens me the most of moving forward.
I really do feel like a failure in life not being anywhere. But I am told by many I am not, many people tell me I am awesome, which I do tend to believe that, but with how I feel about myself in life that really diminishes it.
Sorry about rambling about how I feel in life, but also thank you for reading.
However I did lose 10 lbs since the 11th, but I gained back a 1lb from yesterday eating out for lunch and dinner with people. TT I also have a goal of by the end of the year to jog or run (because walking is too boring for me, if I am by myself)
You seem to have talent and skills, and don't seem to be lazy. You might just not fit too well into the system. Which is unlucky and troublesome, but nothing to feel bad for.
He was the first born any parent would want. He succeeded in life and I always looked up to him when I was young, but I never got to where he is.
I really know that feeling, only because my life it's like the same. Have an brother, he is 5 Years older than me, had only perfect marks in school and went to the university, he also had only A's there. Now he has a really fine job, everything he does, everything he want to do is perfect. I could really hate him for that, but hey, it's my brother. I will never really have the chance to do anything what he does. I never had the chance to get good marks, I had to work on our farm since I'm like 8 years old, haven't had much freetime, haven't had the time to learn for school. I will not able to do what i want, only because there are family problems and I have to do the work what my parents say i have to do. Otherwise we have more problems. I cann't live what i want to do, but you can. Just believe in you. You have amazing skills. Sure, life is not an easy game, its like a game on hardcoremode, you have to fail to gain a win.
You could be 1 step away from the amazing things you want to do, and always think:
Your work is amazing, its not easy to build something like that. Go your way. You will find a job and you will be able to go and live your art-work. Stay focused and nearly everything is possible.
You are just amazing shiro...it makes me so sad that you're unable to get better-known or get yourself out there despite having this fantastic talent
Chin up, I hope it all comes together for you even though I can't really offer any advice. Don't get too down about stuff like weight; I mean it's great that you're trying to stay fit and healthy, but unless you measure weight at the same time every day and after eating the same meal, a 1-pound variation is pretty minimal and can be accounted for by day-to-day fluctuations.
Anyway, Best of luck to you going forward. I wish I could tell you that you will have success as you define it on all fronts of life, but nobody can predict what will happen (and it works the other way as well--no matter how hopeless your situation, you never know how the next day might turn out).
I leave you with a quote from my homeboy Conan O'Brien: "All I ask of you is one thing... I ask this particularly of the young people who watch. Please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen." You're already super kind and a very hard worker, so stay hopeful and keep at it.
And yes, you're still young this is coming from a 17 year-old, just to one-up (one-down?) farv hehe
all you people in this thread posting "you are awesome" are counter-productive for the op (also it's cringe worthy as fuck)
so lets be real here
get off you ass, get off the computer, set some goals and put in your best effort to achieve them. i looked at your baneling thread and it is obvious you have the talent to make design your career. you don't need a degree to achieve this, you just need to keep pushing for that first opportunity, and once you get that the world will open up to you. i would highly recommend you start going to the gym if you don't already. besides losing weight it helps you set goals and achieve them, which translates to other aspects of your life.
I also have a brilliant, almost-perfect older sibling. But I have bigger problems, like strabismus. It really stunted my social development and now it's really hard for me to not be cynical. I'm 24 and I still believe most American people have shitty behavior problems and shitty attitudes. I need to work on that. I'm drawn toward composing music and writing fiction.
I want to share a secret with you.
The purpose of life is to create.
Really cool camera; I'm sure she loved it! 5/5
Edit: Also don't limit yourself to working for other people... there's a lot of opportunity out there for you to make a way for yourself with that kind of talent. Maybe you start a small online business for $15 and watch it grow... who knows! I'm sure you could sell stuff to people on TL for the time being if you really wanted to spend a lot of time with it. Develop your portfolio making stuff for people here and whatnot, then apply to places without a degree. Someone's gotta accept you.
Its hard to be a free spirit.. Its hard to follow your passion no matter what people say...Its work its love its doing it when you don't want to and learning every time you do it...Keep growing keep learning, Listen to good, uplifting music, and wait till youve got some money till you develop an artist drug habit ^.- hahha
May you get to the end of your journey whole, and I hope its close if not exactly what you want!!!
shiroiusagi, I've seen all your stuff whether its the art, plushies, this camera, etc... it's brilliant! Honestly, you need to take that first step. As I see it, you have two options: go to an art school, do the design degree then look for a job and pay off your debt. If you are careful with your spending, you can pay it off in the first 1-2 years and you'll be in a much much better position now. While I don't want to say 100%, but I'm pretty confident most jobs want some degree and it's more along the lines of seeing that you are able to put in the effort and work to get something done. Second option is to do what someone else said, to open up your own website, your own business. Start small and just make plushies. Sell them to people here on TL and whoever else messages you on the site. Once you get some business, you can expand so more stuff that you can do for the customers, etc... This can all add to your portfolio. Does this mean you can get a job in a company? tbh, that all depends on their requirements which is why imo, I think the best thing to do is a combination of these two options.
Find a school you want to go to, take out a loan and pay your way through the degree. On the side, set up a website and do custom plushies, art, etc... in the summertime, you can get a full time job as well as do this side business or just the side business if you are making enough of it and it's exhausting as is. Continue this and then a bit before you graduate, start applying to a lot of places. Your website will show that you are organized, can work on your own and depending on what you designed, you can show that you are able to handle whatever design job you get. It's also all about the way your present yourself to them. Part of life is taking a risk but when it pays off, you'll not only be in a much better position but feel a lot better about taking it so I would say you should consider it. No reason to let your passion stand on the side while you wonder what to do
On April 25 2013 14:28 Ghin wrote: This guy makes balloons into things for a living and he has a star. I would listen to his advice.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/dqcQLUQ.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/MZ9xflD.jpg )
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/dz3ANCE.jpg)
this is coming from a 17 year-old, just to one-up (one-down?) farv hehe
