sutistoy
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Goals
Here I am in school for graphic design, right? I figured here is a way to make a living and be creative doing so.. something that will finally give me a monicre of satisfaction. I have been going for just about a year now, taking part time only because of my hectic life... my grades are A so far and my advisor keeps leaning on me to take more classes so I can graduate sooner. Personally, I'd love to, because I am dying to get a better job. At any rate, my grandparents, who live way down on the end of the state, are happy enough about me being back in school, but clueless as to what I'm doing. They keep telling me to get in touch with my high school ( private) so that I can get a job there teaching "arts and crafts..." Now, I am not in any way putting down teachers, but um, I am putting tons of loans and time into getting somewhere besides a classroom. It would cost me probably half of what it is to become a teacher.Plus, teachers lately get the shaft as far as pay, benefits, and art teachers get cut when the budget is thin. Salary wise, other than tenured professors, I'd probably make more as a designer. I really did love my high school, but I couldn't live in Rome, Ga. It is incredibly small; by small I mean, one mall, one movie theater, nothing open on SUndays except church. And, it is a christian high school, so, were I working there, I'd be subjected to mandatory church attendence twice a week. I can't argue these points with my grandparents, however, because, well, there is no convincing them. I am not doing the "settling" for a job here thing after I graduate. That is the whole point of changing my direction. I want something that I can enjoy and get something out of, along with a job with reasonable pay and reasonable schedules. In retail, I deal with an excess of managerial bs, bs from the coorperate office, bs in trying to get a day off for a doctors appointment, bs about trying to get maybe 30 hours a week at a job where I am supposed to be full time. After nearly ten years, I have had enough. I don't have anywhere to expand to, except to join the bs club as a manager, which won't happen anyhow because a. I'm not a guy, b. I'm not "in" with the right people via brown nosing. I get 40cents raise per year in my pay rate, if I'm lucky, which doesn't cover the hours I am being cut.
Point being, I understand my grandparents want me to have stability and all that, but they don't seem to understand that I am not looking to be a teacher. Maybe I'd do that after my kids are grown, or something, but right now I'm looking to build a creative career and more financial soundness.
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2/23/2009, 4:50 pm
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DebbrahF
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Re: Goals
Utah is pretty damn close to the bottom, so I understand.
I work for the advertising department for our local major newspapers (they have an agreement... we put ads in both and in a couple other products.) I'm not one of the artists... but I see a lot of them. I would suggest you try and have a clearer idea than just "graphic design" so you have some back up skills. There are a lot of people trying to sell themselves as graphic designers who end up settling. So try tolook the best you can for where you want to be.
Like if you wanted to work in advertising... take communications and marketing courses as well as graphic design.
---
For good or ill, luck and opportunity are 90%+ preparation...
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2/25/2009, 10:20 pm
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Saijen SilverWolf
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Location: Upper North East Tennessee
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Re: Goals
sutistoy, my oldest daughter lives near Atlanta (I've been through Rome several times) and is taking classes for graphic arts as well...she's designed newsletters for some big company there in Atlanta a while back when she worked for them (can't remember the company's name). One of the problems she kept encountering was they wanted a lot more work....no more pay, so the advice that Deborah is giving you is very good advice. Graphic Artists are one of the up coming fields that you can make a lot of money in...IF you know the right people, and have additional skills. This is something my daughter's professor has mentioned more than once. Don't lock yourself into JUST graphic design...but add to that to give yourself a stronger possibility of getting the job you really want.
As for the situation with your grandparents, I have to agree with Corbin there. Just smile, nod then go on about your business. At the most....just tell them that you're keeping all of your options open, including teaching....which, you are, it's just that teaching is not very high on that list of options....they don't need to know that. If they know you're at least considering it, despite to what degree, they may back off some. They are just concerned that you won't be able to find 'the job' then you'll be stuck with a much less desirable job than teaching.....you gotta love that they care enough to be a PITA about it. Do what you want, but let them know you are listening to what they have to say....even if you don't intend to follow that advice. 
I hope that things ease up for ya!! *hugs*
--- Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~
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2/28/2009, 6:18 pm
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