Jen's experience at Career Day

Jen · January 28, 2009, 04:43:40 PM

Hey everyone. I was invited to speak to a high school about what I do for a living. My cousin is the teacher who extended the invitation. He's a swimming coach and a computer graphics teacher. He prepared me for the questions I would be asked...but I was nervous and I admitted it to the first class. I was surprised when several of them answered simultaniously, "don't be miss." :D

Most of them seemed to be more interested in the fact that I work for a waterpark chain than my experience as a graphic designer...but several students were actually looking to enter college as design majors and had some very good questions for me. I was very impressed that a good number of them shook my hand on their way into class, and thanked me when they left. Good kids.

The second class was huge and my cousin had to "get medieval" a few times. That was awkward and at the same time very funny...but I had to keep myself from laughing. Not at him, but at the students, because they responded very quickly with "yes sir". I don't think it was his students that were acting up...another class from across the hall joined my cousin's and they were the ones being disruptive. Anyway...though they were noisier, they asked good questions. And towards the end of class a few showed me their work. One boy asked me to listen to his music piece that he had composed on Garage Band. A girl on the other side of the room started to complain when he pushed play. Suddenly I was zapped back into 1993...I was a senior in high school and a snobby girl had dissed my less popular friend. I shot the girl a glare and told the boy it sounded great...very sci-fi. I could tell he was very proud so I asked him to tell me how he composed it and he was all to willing to do so. Then he suggested I play it on my podcast. I think I'll email my cousin and tell him to have the kid email it to me for the Ready Room as an atmosphere track. After class the boy came up to me and shook my hand. I told him not to listen to girls like that and to keep doing what he was doing. I hope that encouraged him. I can't stand snobs.

Anyway it was a very rewarding experience and if you have an opportunity to do the same I highly recommend it.

Rico · January 28, 2009, 04:52:22 PM

Good for you Jen. Being involved in education myself and with Lynn being a teacher I know how important things like this are for kids. You may have actually created a few future graphic designers today!

KC · January 28, 2009, 05:14:59 PM

I'm glad you encouraged the young musician, Jen. Artists of all kinds always need a little positivity to strengthen self-esteem. :)

ElfManDan · January 28, 2009, 07:25:30 PM

I certainly wish I could have had someone to to tell me that in High School. It wasn't till towards the end of my senior year that people started to pay attention to what I was doing and encouraged me. Though only the less popular kids, I'm still belittled in the eyes of the more popular kids.
I'm glad now to have you guys and my small fan base for Malevolent Shadow. It really does helps to have the encouragement.
It's a real good thing you did Jen.

billybob476 · January 29, 2009, 05:33:47 AM

I think most of us here can relate to that boy. That was a great thing to do Jen.

moyer777 · January 29, 2009, 07:16:34 AM

fantastic! Anytime you can inspire someone to dream and think of what life could be it is good! It is so great that you overcame your discomfort for the sake of inspiring young minds. Way to go! Thanks for sharing too!

Meds · January 29, 2009, 09:40:11 AM

Well done Jen, you have just made this boys dream. At school i was given no encouragement when it came to my writing or film making. At the time i was budding comic book writer and i so wanted to go into acting. I was never given a chance. If someone at school (parents were always encouraging ) bothered to just say " keep at it you are doing great " then that would have made my year. Instead i had to wait 15 years later till i started to get into gear with filming and writing.
With people like you Jen, and also the good people here on this site that give encouragement and are always enthusiastic with your work it makes me want to do more.

Gamma Quadrant Golf Clap for you . :)

Dangelus · January 30, 2009, 12:01:04 AM

You know I don't remember my school ever having a visitor talk about what they do in that way. It is such a good idea to give kids an idea of what the 'real world' is like. Maybe it happens more these days I don't know.

When I was at school their was nobody really that had the same interests and ideas as me. You didn't get encouraged to seek out less mainstream things at school and it was even harder when you didn't 'follow the crowd'.

Good for you Jen. If at least one kid goes away and remembers that day then it is a result!

ElfManDan · January 31, 2009, 06:42:06 PM

Quote from: Dangelus on January 30, 2009, 12:01:04 AM
You know I don't remember my school ever having a visitor talk about what they do in that way. It is such a good idea to give kids an idea of what the 'real world' is like. Maybe it happens more these days I don't know.

Being a recent graduate from High School (1 year approaching) I recall we had this kinda thing all the time, several times a year, all four years.

Ktrek · January 31, 2009, 10:46:56 PM

Sounds like a rewarding experience Jen. I think anytime a difference can be made in the lives of young people it should be taken advantage of.

Kevin