HHmmmm (sigh),

I am a Multimedia student who hasn't found an internship to complete
his associates yet.

I have lost direction, clarity and focus,.. in that I don't know if I am
a designer, code geek, video geek or what.

To top it off I drive trucks to make ends meet, which leaves me no time
develop an interesting student portfolio.

Does anyone know how I would solve my dilemma, and find clarity? Also,
anyone have personal advice on how to research companies?

If not, please feel free to criticize me up and down this newsgroup,
blah blah blah


jyhm

"jyhm" <dj@mhyj.ten.backasswards> wrote in message
news:dj-EF65F6.19032802022005@news.east.earthlink.net...
| HHmmmm (sigh),
|
| I am a Multimedia student who hasn't found an internship to complete
| his associates yet.

Start looking. There are lots of places out there that will let you work
for free.

| I have lost direction, clarity and focus,.. in that I don't know if I am
| a designer, code geek, video geek or what.
|
| To top it off I drive trucks to make ends meet, which leaves me no time
| develop an interesting student portfolio.

Are you really interested in a working in the field? When I was in school
(engineering not art) I worked three jobs to pay the tuition and support a
young family. Still manage to get a degree.

| Does anyone know how I would solve my dilemma, and find clarity? Also,
| anyone have personal advice on how to research companies?

sounds like burn out to me.

Contact some worthy orgs in your area. Battered women's shelter, Meals
on Wheels, doesn't matter what kind of org, just pick one that does
good work in your community and go do good work for them.

Thank You "Glorywest" & "Not Me"


I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post.


"Glorywest" <webdesign7@comcast.net> wrote:
What did you mean Glorywest, that I should do design work for non-profit
orgs‹or did you mean to just be a good citizen?


"Not Me" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
Well my intention was not to have a pity party for poor me. I am not
here to wine about how hard it is for me. Although I find it hard to
believe that you held 3 jobs, had a family to support, and went to
engineering school at the same time.

I commend you for it none the less, but In my world there are only 24
hours in one day. I work for a moving company, driving trucks and moving
furniture and man thats enough work for me.

The truth is I have plenty of time,.. but I seem to be disillusioned
about my quest to be a designer/graphics/video/ or whatever guy. But my
problem really wasn't about time management but more of what the title
suggests "Loss of Direction" or focus.


I'm not sure what you mean by this. What kind of burn out? Are you
suggesting that I hit the pipe or something? (I don't)

Thanks for your input

jyhm

"jyhm" <dj@mhyj.ten.backasswards> wrote in message
news:dj-B1D9BE.18233004022005@news.east.earthlink.net...
| Thank You "Glorywest" & "Not Me"
|
| I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post.
|
|
| "Glorywest" <webdesign7@comcast.net> wrote:
| > Contact some worthy orgs in your area. Battered women's shelter, Meals
| > on Wheels, doesn't matter what kind of org, just pick one that does
| > good work in your community and go do good work for them.
|
| What did you mean Glorywest, that I should do design work for non-profit
| orgs |
|
| "Not Me" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
| > Are you really interested in a working in the field? When I was in
school
| > (engineering not art) I worked three jobs to pay the tuition and support
a
| > young family. Still manage to get a degree.
|
| Well my intention was not to have a pity party for poor me. I am not
| here to wine about how hard it is for me. Although I find it hard to
| believe that you held 3 jobs, had a family to support, and went to
| engineering school at the same time.
|
| I commend you for it none the less, but In my world there are only 24
| hours in one day. I work for a moving company, driving trucks and moving
| furniture and man thats enough work for me.
|
There is all the time there is no more no less. How you spend it is the
trick. In my case I had a goal, a plan to reach that goal and apparently the
will to make it work. (BTW I built into that plan some breaks for R&R not
so much as to destroy the over all plan but to prevent burn out)

It's up to you to decide what your goal is, to determine a plan to reach it
and if you have the will to make a go of the trip.

| > sounds like burn out to me.
|
| I'm not sure what you mean by this. What kind of burn out? Are you
| suggesting that I hit the pipe or something? (I don't)
|
No. Burn out on the subject (graphic arts) and the process (school). There
was a lady comic on TV some time back who was telling jokes about being in
(child) labor for 36+ hours. Her retort I don't do thing that feel good for
36+ hours.

Your statement following:

| The truth is I have plenty of time,.. but I seem to be disillusioned
| about my quest to be a designer/graphics/video/ or whatever guy. But my
| problem really wasn't about time management but more of what the title
| suggests "Loss of Direction" or focus.

Is a clear indication of 'burn out'.

No matter how much you enjoy or want something build in some R&R time to
recharge. One of the first companies I worked for had a program where
EVERYONE had to take vacation. No excuses and they were not to call into
the office. If they did the switch board was instructed to tell them
'everything is fine' no more no less. Even the security passes were blocked
so that individual could not work in the off hours. Company was very
successful and the employees happy. BTW the vacation rule also applied to
the owner and the CEO.

I think if you picked an organization that was a real help to your
community and became a real help to them, you might find some meaning.
I do my church's website for example. It's a big help to them. I also
do some design work for other non profits and they are quite grateful.
Plus you get to have more design freedom with these types of jobs many
times than you do with a paying client. My church was thrilled with the
design I did. I've done two church sites and I am very pleased with
both of them. They serve a great function, I enjoyed and learned while
I built them and they managed to please the congregations. As a
designer, getting appreciation for your work rather than criticism is a
great drug. It keeps you going.

Your skills could truly be a godsend to some organization. You could
make a real difference in helping them communicate their needs and
goals within the community. Working at a moving company cannot help you
with your focus. You should be working in your field. You cannot
possibly know what you want to do in life if you are not even
attempting to do it. At least if you were working in your field and you
hated it you would know that. Right now you just don't know because you
haven't been doing it.

When I was just out of college I was hanging out with this guy a lot
older and he said some things to me that really made me think. Those
things changed my life. I was complaining about how I wanted to be a
photographer, how I wanted to be an artist. I was unemployed at the
time and freelancing graphics to help pay the rent. He commented that
if I wanted to be an artist or photographer I had to hang out with
them. He said my roommantes had no clue about me and they never would.
I may like them, but I was never going to get to where I thought I
wanted to be in my present situation. He was right. I put an ad in the
paper and started answering ads to share a photo studio. I knew I need
to be around photographers if I wanted to be one. I found a guy who had
a small studio he would rent to me for $50 a month, I had use of it on
weekends and I had to pay for my own paper. It made all the difference
in the world. I started doing instead of talking or thinking.

I just hired a college kid like you. This is his first job in his
field. He wants to be an animator. He is doing websites and flash for
me. He is thrilled to have a job in his field. Hehas been working at a
restaurant the last four years. How can he learn about his profession
in a restaurant? When I interviewed him I knew he would be great and
enthusiastic and he is. He's a fast learner and grateful for the job.
And we are glad to have him working with us. Keep your eye out not only
for a pro bono situation, but think about companies that do the work
you are interested in and approach them about an internship. You may be
surprised.

Thank you "GloryQuest" & "NotMe"

Your advice has been very encouraging. Mostly your personal stories are
of great value to me. I appreciate your concern & I hope that I am able
to produce a provocative portfolio as I figure a way to recharge my
batteries!

Thanx!

jyhm

I wish you the best in your journey. Keep trying and don't give up on
your dreams. They're all you have.