A tumblr post about tumblr. Had a meeting with them today. Super cool and fun
Sorry for the reblogging. I promise I will write content soon.
Me
Instagram Blog: Introducing Your Instagram Feed on the Web
Today, I’m very excited to announce the launch of a product we’ve been wanting to build for quite some time now. Since our launch in October of 2010, we’ve focused on building a simple app that has inspired creativity while capturing everyday moments through the lens of your mobile phone. In…
So cool, and finally!
A year to travel
2011 was an exciting year. I traveled to Cambodia, made a documentary, met Blake Mycoskie of TOMS, traveled to Las Vegas 3 times, worked as a freelance photographer, held two internships: Amarillo Bulls and Nobox Creative, met the author of “Where Am I Wearing,” Kelsey Timmerman, became General Manager of KWTS The One 91.1 FM, and started a blog about my life and experiences. Yeah it was busy, but oh so fun.
Looking back on this year, I’ve had some key takeaways and here they are to name a few:
- Do not be afraid to travel. I’d say this was a valuable lesson learned. I was afraid of moving other places and changing where I was and what I knew about the world and myself. I’ve spent about 61 hours total flying, and that’s not including layovers and driving to different places. Seeing other people, seeing other cultures it’s all a part of defining who you are as a person. You can’t be completely comfortable in your own skin and be certain of who you are without seeing how other people live. Plus I can guarantee you will pick up some knowledge or skill when traveling - I know I did.
- You will mess up, but don’t panic. I’ve messed up a lot this past year. Whether it’s something to do with a school assignment or it’s something relational wise - you will make a mistake. I have learned though, that being honest about those mistakes and learning from them is the best thing. Don’t panic and fret about the mess.
- Never stop thirsting for knowledge. At one point in the year, I had felt burnt out - done with it all. I didn’t really care about what I was learning about in school or what I was doing outside of school. I was bored. Then I found advertising. I became hungry to learn something new, to be creative in a new avenue. It has led to my two internships and I have found that this hunger and yearning for knowledge has propelled me to be a better person.
I’m not too sure what 2012 will hold for me - well I guess everyone can say that. I do know that I want to land a dream job of mine. I want to be more open with others. I want to continue to develop my skills and improve. I want to find ways that I can come alive.
Moving Forward with Fear
February 22, 2010:
We had the Cambodia class today and it was eventful. Students presented their ideas on women’s issues today. I thought they went well and showed the group different aspects of things.
Bay Leaves* finally broke from their shell! They made jokes during the presnetation and seemed to be engaging more.
We signed waivers and such from PEPY (the organization that we are going with/taking us around). I also brought in the XL2 camera to show them what it looks like and to get some footage of our class.
After their presentations, I played the Africa documentary for the class and went though the filmmakers pledge. I talked about what I’m going to do with it and how I’m balancing the role of peer leader and filmmaker. I feel like I got a lot of good classroom shots today. I got some nice rack focus’ of students’ faces as they watched the presentations.
Ginger also made it to class today! Ginger seems to be feeling a lot better and looks good. I was so happy to see them, I feel like they are almost a parent away from a parent.
After class some of the freshmen, Paprika and I went to the soda shop on the square for ice cream. It was nice to hangout with everyone outside of class. We all cracked jokes about Bay Leaves’ jokes and Saffron had some questions for me about what counted as a logo on a shirt for documentary copyright issues.
I really really like the 12 remaining students. We all get along well and have formed our little Kruesa.
The blog seems to be running smoothly. Everyone seems to understand the gravity of this trip. I made Garlic do a vlog before class so I’ll be posting this on the blog.
I’ve had my first friend change issue already and we haven’t even left yet. Today I was texting one of my friends Nutmeg about how I was scared of the personal change I’ll be making with this trip. Basically Nutmeg said that they doubt I will change and I’ll just go back to the same old me like two weeks later. Uhh, really? Hell no. I’m not traveling overseas to see firsthand the impacts of human trafficking and then just “oh well” the rest of my life. Vanilla, another friend, also agreed with Nutmeg which upset me even more. People have ended relationships from the trips, stopped drinking, and changed their thought process altogether. I called Pepper about this and they said they had completely changed. Pepper doesn’t hangout with the same friends - those that didn’t get it. Changed how Pepper looks at the world.
Pepper also said that there isn’t a point in changing their minds. They aren’t in my shoes. They aren’t going on a trip to another country. I just wonder about what my other friends think. How many will I loose? Life happens. Growth is for the good. This trip WILL impact my life.
*all names have been changed for privacy
Start it up
February 2, 2011:
We had our second Cambodia class today and I’m excited even more. Last night Paprika, Ginger* and I met at 575 pizzeria, where Ginger had some disheartening news. They are supposed to have surgery on their spine and their is a chance that they won’t be going to Cambodia. It really all depends on if the recovery time will allow them to travel; I really hope it does. I honestly can’t imagine this trip without Ginger at all.
This Friday Ginger, my advisor and I will be talking about my senior project and what all I’ll need to do. I talked to other broadcasters who want to help me when I get back to work on what I need to make this video the best.
In class today, we did another counting get to know you and got to 64! The group is really coming together. Chili seems to take charge with questions about food and plans. I feel like I’m getting closer to Sage - seems like my closest buddy right now. We found out our true colors again and seem to have a good mix of colors. Thyme led us through a forest walk which told a lot about our personalties. I was surprised how accurate it was. Then we talked about blog problems and how to post. I posted blogs already and they are sooo good. It’s cool to lean about everyone’s thought process when they found out they won the essay contest. Well we have some readings for next week’s class and I’m off!
How I got here
Let’s do a little back tracking for awhile.
I’ve been writing in my journal about Cambodia and the trip for awhile now and I’ve decided that I should post my journal entries and then continue posting my thoughts and lessons learned. So to start off:
November 13, 2010:
I should have started journaling awhile back. Where do I even begin? It was two years ago that I cam to WT on a leap of faith searching for broadcasting schools. My freshmen year I read What is the What and spent all Summer writing my essay for the readership program trip to Africa. When I spent all Summer long…I really mean ALL SUMMER - I had my high school English teachers review it. I didn’t even get an interview to win the contest.
Later that year I applied to be a Peer Leader and help incoming high school students transition into the college life. I didn’t get that either. And truth be told, I shouldn’t have. I hadn’t matured enough yet. I was still in this “party” and “let’s go crazy” mentality.
My next year in college, changed me for the better. After several mistakes, as we all have made before, I began to grow up a little. I started caring more for my friends and they started to help me grow. My best friend Pepper, who went on the Africa trip (and whose birthday is today) helped me grow the most. I’ve learned what love is and what it isn’t. I’ve learned about myself, and I know I want to continue to change for the better. No longer be viewed as the “party goer.” I’m becoming an adult.
Anyway, back to the story, this past year I re-applied to be a Peer Leader and I got it! This Summer as a Peer Leader has been the best! Now as a part of the readership program, one Peer Leader is supposed to go with the freshmen students on the trip that year. This year’s book is The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam. After reading the book and writing an essay, it came down to Paprika and I for the spot and an all expense paid trip to Cambodia! Well, I wouldn’t be writing in this journal if I hadn’t been chosen (Paprika and I are both going!). I am so excited! With 14 other freshmen, Paprika and I will travel to Cambodia (with 2 advisors of course) and spend some days working with Somaly Mam in her shelters! I’m not entirely sure of what all we will be doing but I know after a 14 hour plane right and a layover in Hong Kong, I’ll be halfway around the world this Spring Break for the experience of a lifetime. Paprika and I will be working to engange the freshmen students on the trip and before.
Oh and as a part of my Senior Project, I’ll be bring a camera and will be shooting some sort of a mini documentary or video essay! This will look so good on my resume. So, I started this journal to keep track of my thoughts or ideas that I have before, while there, and after Cambodia. My only fear: not being able to experience every thing in full. I’m afraid I’ll become lost behind the camera or lost as a Peer Leader. So I’m listing goals that I want to accomplish on this trip:
- Engage freshmen students
- Shoot a “documentary”
- Self discovery and who I am
- Have fun and experience Cambodia
So for now that’s all. We should be getting together as a group sometime soon and getting passports. I’m so excited! Words cannot express this. Also, at freshmen convocation, where freshmen students envision graduation, the essay contest winners were announced and Somaly Mam was there and we met her! So exciting and she is such an inspiration.
*all names are changed for privacy
