- Jan 13, 2005
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In a huge dilemma, and I figured this would be a good place to seek advice, considering a lot of the audience here is fairly mature and professional.
I just went to college (Graphic Design degree) for my first semester ever. It was me and a buddy of mine, 2 days a week, all day long, crappy weather, an hour and a half away from home. The only good part was that it was me and him, same classes, and that sort of lightened the situation we were in. I, however, have been doing graphic design/web/3d for over 6 years, and can tell you I am probably more experienced than any of the professors (not that i got to meet them, still on the core class curriculum). I just feel that school is slowing me down, getting in my way. I have my own business doing all kinds of design and development, and for the last 3 months since it started it has flourished. I love design, it is my passion, but there is literally nothing school can teach me (mainly because you can not simply teach someone how to be a good designer, it comes with experience and having an "eye" for that type of stuff). My portfolio is enough for me to get a job at a design firm, worst case scenario, my company ends up not being able to support my needs. Now days a college degree isn't enough. We had guys 6 years older than us apply for jobs at my company that graduated from Art Institute of Atlanta with amazingly crappy portfolios.
I simply do not want to go back. I feel like I'm wasting my life when I'm there, knowing that in the blink of an eye I'm going to be 50 years old with a piece of paper in my hand saying I "did" something. My friend has already decided he is dropping out mainly due to the same reasons, but with some personal/family problems in the picture as well. He is the co-founder of the company and a very good friend of mine - we started interacting with design around the same early age and have stuck together since then.
I feel like its in all my best interest to "take a break" - saying I will definitely go back to school one day. But what's stopping me is the following: I'm still at my parents house, and I really don't want to betray them (starting with the "We came to America so you can get your education") regardless of how much I explain it won't do much for me, they're still parents. I don't want to see them disappointed and thinking I am making the wrong choice.
After this semester I will lose my HOPE scholarship - because I have been flooded with work (and trust me, I love working) I ended up scoring two 90's, 1 85ish and 1 D.. However the 90's apparently counted as B+'s in those classes giving me only a 3 instead of a 4 on the GPA scale. My parents don't know, and if I lived alone I wouldn't bother them with my college dilemmas. But the second I imagine going back there on January 11th, driving back and forth constantly, wasting my time.. it makes me sick.
What do I do?
Cliffs:
1) Went to college for 1 semester so far for graphic design
2) Been doing graphic design for a long time
3) Own a company in graphic design that has been pretty successful up to date (and by successful I mean that it is a 3 month old firm and has gone a long way for the time period, more projects than expected, but I still won't take the risk to rely fully on it just yet, it is way too early for me to leap on to it, but hopefully it is headed in a good direction)
4) School is far, terrible setting, and the friend I bared the pain with is dropping out (had same classes and everything - also co-owner and business partner)
5) Feel like school is slowing me down, and just adding stress in my life
6) Had guys 5-6 years older than us apply at the company that graduated with a graphic design diploma - however lacking portfolio-wise and creative taste
7) Don't want to get the "We came to America so you can get your education talk"
8) Still living with the parents and do not want in any case to make them feel bad or add stress in their lives
9) I know 100% a diploma won't do anything for me - great backup plan, but I'm sure my portfolio will do more
10) HOPE scholarship will expire after this semester - work got in the way, and my 90's were only counted as B+'s (3) on my GPA.
11) Will 10000% go back to school in the future but feel like I'm too young and ambitious to have it put me down, add stress and extra work to my life.
Helpful advice/moments from your life would help me.
Thank you.
I just went to college (Graphic Design degree) for my first semester ever. It was me and a buddy of mine, 2 days a week, all day long, crappy weather, an hour and a half away from home. The only good part was that it was me and him, same classes, and that sort of lightened the situation we were in. I, however, have been doing graphic design/web/3d for over 6 years, and can tell you I am probably more experienced than any of the professors (not that i got to meet them, still on the core class curriculum). I just feel that school is slowing me down, getting in my way. I have my own business doing all kinds of design and development, and for the last 3 months since it started it has flourished. I love design, it is my passion, but there is literally nothing school can teach me (mainly because you can not simply teach someone how to be a good designer, it comes with experience and having an "eye" for that type of stuff). My portfolio is enough for me to get a job at a design firm, worst case scenario, my company ends up not being able to support my needs. Now days a college degree isn't enough. We had guys 6 years older than us apply for jobs at my company that graduated from Art Institute of Atlanta with amazingly crappy portfolios.
I simply do not want to go back. I feel like I'm wasting my life when I'm there, knowing that in the blink of an eye I'm going to be 50 years old with a piece of paper in my hand saying I "did" something. My friend has already decided he is dropping out mainly due to the same reasons, but with some personal/family problems in the picture as well. He is the co-founder of the company and a very good friend of mine - we started interacting with design around the same early age and have stuck together since then.
I feel like its in all my best interest to "take a break" - saying I will definitely go back to school one day. But what's stopping me is the following: I'm still at my parents house, and I really don't want to betray them (starting with the "We came to America so you can get your education") regardless of how much I explain it won't do much for me, they're still parents. I don't want to see them disappointed and thinking I am making the wrong choice.
After this semester I will lose my HOPE scholarship - because I have been flooded with work (and trust me, I love working) I ended up scoring two 90's, 1 85ish and 1 D.. However the 90's apparently counted as B+'s in those classes giving me only a 3 instead of a 4 on the GPA scale. My parents don't know, and if I lived alone I wouldn't bother them with my college dilemmas. But the second I imagine going back there on January 11th, driving back and forth constantly, wasting my time.. it makes me sick.
What do I do?
Cliffs:
1) Went to college for 1 semester so far for graphic design
2) Been doing graphic design for a long time
3) Own a company in graphic design that has been pretty successful up to date (and by successful I mean that it is a 3 month old firm and has gone a long way for the time period, more projects than expected, but I still won't take the risk to rely fully on it just yet, it is way too early for me to leap on to it, but hopefully it is headed in a good direction)
4) School is far, terrible setting, and the friend I bared the pain with is dropping out (had same classes and everything - also co-owner and business partner)
5) Feel like school is slowing me down, and just adding stress in my life
6) Had guys 5-6 years older than us apply at the company that graduated with a graphic design diploma - however lacking portfolio-wise and creative taste
7) Don't want to get the "We came to America so you can get your education talk"
8) Still living with the parents and do not want in any case to make them feel bad or add stress in their lives
9) I know 100% a diploma won't do anything for me - great backup plan, but I'm sure my portfolio will do more
10) HOPE scholarship will expire after this semester - work got in the way, and my 90's were only counted as B+'s (3) on my GPA.
11) Will 10000% go back to school in the future but feel like I'm too young and ambitious to have it put me down, add stress and extra work to my life.
Helpful advice/moments from your life would help me.
Thank you.
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