Journal Day 139: The Key Is In The Planning

One part of my life ( and my personality) is how crazily organised I am. I'm known for being a control freak and one of the most organised people that most of my friends know. In order for me to balance everything I have going on in my life I write lists. I find it crucial. It honestly is the only way I feel I could succeed in life. I have lists for the year, the next 3 months and then on a weekly and daily basis! Sounds like too much? I don't think so.

The longer lists stay in my head- my plans for the year; what I need to do and accomplish. Once we get into quarterly periods its less list form and more calendar/ timetable form. What's happening when, and what I need to do. The weekly lists are what enable me to make those things happen. What needs to be done this week, or even today? Well mine look a little something like this;

I have so many lists going at any one time, and so many notebooks that just get used for lists and notes and planning. But I love it :).

It helps me to get a good grade in my course, enables me to to get things done for the online course I do. It helps me to make sure that everything is on track for the next course I start in October (finance, credit transfers etc.) They ensure that my flat stays clean and pretty and that I keep on top of my d.i.y projects. They help me remember and figure out what's left to plan and book for my Italy trip in September.

All in all I lead a BUSY life. There is always lots going on at any one time, and quite simply a diary alone just is not enough! (oh yes I fill those up easily too!)

Does it seem weird or too much? I certainly don't think so :)

Abiento x

It was this

I decided not to take up my place at Falmouth this September due to many reasons. But it only took one thing for me to change my mind. Yep, you heard it. I've changed my mind. Again. (I'm not very good at this decision making lark am I!?)

Well these were the images that did it;

When Ryan, from Pacing the Panic Room posted these backstage images he shot recently on a job in California, I flipped inside. The colours grabbed me and screamed at me. They were telling me that this is what I wanted to be making, and that I need to make a change. They said that what I'm doing isn't good enough and it isn't me.

And so, I let my mum persuade me to take up my place at Falmouth. Hell, it's a short course. It's only 6 months of my life. So, in a month I will no longer be in full time employment- but be back to full time education. Just for one more year.

I want to learn more, I want to push myself more, and most of all, I want the time to do this. I don't want to feel guilty or rushed about doing things in my life. There is too much on my plate at the moment, and not enough space (physically, mentally or time wise) in my life to continue to do it all whilst being creative and happy. It's just not possible. So I'm taking a year for me. A year to be, and a year to figure out me and what I want to do. Hopefully it will continue to be brilliant, like the last 6 months have been, and hopefully I will continue to meet fantastic people who will along the way help me to figure out what it is that I am going to do.

Fingers Crossed eh!

Abiento x

P.S I just wanted to point out that interestingly it was these 4 images (all shot on digital with a Canon 7D, that I preferred over the film images he shared. This is quite rare for me....but like I said, the colours just grabbed me.)

Falmouth: Interview #2.

So. I have already heard back from Falmouth- in record time!

Sadly they decided not to offer me the place. In some ways this annoys me, as I know I would be perfect for a photography degree there, and would be a really successful member of the course. It also really annoys me, because of how poorly the interview went. I felt that they didn't ask me enough in the interview to actually get to know me and determine whether or not I would be a good candidate. I also felt that because during the interview they said that they thought I should do the diploma, that by not giving me the place on the degree program they have essentially made the decision for me. Not really fair.

On the other hand however, I had already decided that if I was offered the place, I wouldn't accept it, and that I wanted to do the diploma. The photography degrees in England are highly creative. This is good if you want to be an 'artist' exhibiting in galleries and the like, but not so good if you want to run your own business. 3 years of creative work is a long time. Plus, having spoken to many photographers about this subject, very few have photography degrees and have said that you only need them if you want to teach, however you do get to use amazing equipment for free. (Well, not free- its now 9,000 GBP a year.......)

So I had already decided that I wanted to do the one year diploma, and then take some other courses such as business or some specific photography classes rather than a full degree. So I shouldn't be upset.......... yet I am. I have an annoying need to be good at stuff, and to prove that I am good and worthy to other people. The fact that I was declined a place on a degree is a bit of a hit in the stomach. But as one of my housemates pointed out to me- "

At least they didn't ask you any questions about you. Therefore they declined you based on something other than you. They don't know you, and if they did, they might rethink their decision. It's their problem that they didn't bother to get to know you. Their loss, not yours."

So yeh.....

Abiento x

Falmouth: Interview #2.

SO. #2. This time around the interview was for the photography degree course at Falmouth. Same school. Different qualification. Different medium. And boy was I nervous.

Being that I have only been back home for oh, 1 and a half days, I was severely unprepared! I had my portfolio put together before I left for Canada, but didn't have much time to add the full bulk of my recent images, so felt a bit bereft.

For the foundation interview I wasn't nervous. If I'm honest, I was pretty sure I had it in the bag. And lucky for me, I did! But this time around, I'm not so sure. Not at all. I came back from Canada not even sure if I was going to go to the interview, if I would even want the place if it were offered to me. But I decided that it would only be a couple of hours out of my life, so I might as well go. When I got there I realised that maybe I did want this...... and the nerves increased.

The interview itself was short. Ridiculously short. They looked through my work and asked me 2 questions. Thats it. And those questions were: "What modules did you take while you were at UBC?" and "Have you applied anywhere else?". THAT WAS IT!!? What!? I know. I actually said to them- 'Oh-is that it!?' But apparently so. They said that my work showed them all they needed to know, and that those were the only questions they had for me. So off I went. Or at least I tried to leave.....but, just as I was trying to pack up my many many sketchbooks, my portfolio case broke. Yup handle came off, zip split, the whole shabang. Oh feck. Oh and look there's the next person coming in for their interview. Great. After I finally squeezed it all back in, and lugged the heavy bugger up through campus back to my car (after about 5 short breaks) I was knackered, and admittedly worried.

They did say just at the end; "Maybe the foundation course is right for you, maybe that's what you should do. But don't worry." So I left thinking.... right well there's no way I'm getting a place here then if that's what they think!

I'm not sure how this one is gonna turn out, but fingers crossed!

Abiento x

Falmouth University College

So, those of you that follow the links I put up on facebook will probably have seen that I was offered a place at Falmouth University. I am so so pleased because quite honestly, I didn't think I would get in! When I was still in College, and everyone was applying for uni a few of my friends applied for Falmouth and didn't get in. They were easily as good as me, and some better, so this worried me.

At this time I had been applying for Canadian Universities, and had applied for the equivalent of Falmouth; Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Luckily for me, I was offered a place, but turned it down in favor of UBC. But Falmouth is still one of the top art Universities in the UK, so I was rightly nervous!

But good news is, I have accepted the place, and I get to stay in a town I love, a county I love, with the people I love, on a course I will hopefully love! I don't know whether me and the mr will continue living together or not, I think we would both quite like to have our own space for a while, but either way we will be in the same town, rather than on different continents!

Abiento x