Old files!

I don't know when I stopped writing. I realized I could no longer trace my old MS word document containing my life's contents for the last decade or so. In search of it I came across a file titled 'London Living.' I must have thought I was going to begin a new story about my adventures abroad. I've spent the last couple weeks lamenting about how quickly this chapter of my life has blown by, the final year of Uni is impending already! For the hell of it I thought I would post the summation of how I arrived here.

There was always an underlying yearning to do something big and exciting. I was never certain what it would be or if I was capable, but the feeling was persistent. I was on a quest for happiness and if I was miserable doing something, I would stop immediately. I understood why some people just couldn’t commit to a job, a person or a place. I have lived in 17 (possibly more?) different homes, 5 different cities within Canada and still hadn’t found a location that fit.

After half-completing a Makeup Art course in Yorkville, a Journalism degree at Sheridan College and an 8-month Graphic Design course at Humber College, I still didn’t feel educationally fulfilled. In the workforce I had difficulty finding a position that satisfied my creative thirst and enabled me to utilize more than one of my qualifications.

I had requested a course calendar from Bath Spa University in England at the age of 15. My mother took me on a “special trip” to Europe the year before and I fell in love with London, despite only spending two days there. After visiting France, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, England always stuck with me.

Fast-forward to years later, I was having another “what to do with my life” crisis at 24. I had a “career” type job at a huge. The delight dissipated quickly. The job was inadequate by my standards. I adored my boss and my co-workers and was proud to be a part of such a fantastic company, but my creativity and spirit felt like it was being squashed by the mindless tasks I repeated daily.

I explored my options. England was calling me. I decided to contact several universities in London to inquire about their Graphic Design programs. Only one responded – University of the Arts London. I did not realize until I had crossed the ocean how prestigious of a school it is, other than the impressive list of alumni on wikipedia.

After correspondence with the extremely helpful Canadian representative based in Vancouver, I had an interview set up for December 3, 2008. I took a sick day from work and my mom drove down from Muskoka to accompany me. I left my portfolio in a conference room at the Westin Harbour Castle for the determining party to peruse and was instructed to wait outside. My stylish interview dress by Marc Jacobs was soaked with anxious sweat.

It wasn’t long before they invited me back in. I was asked a series of questions regarding my work, which I thought I answered terribly. I could hardly think straight I was so nervous. The man issuing the questions offered me a place in the BA Graphic Design program at Central Saint Martins. The elation broke through and I jumped in my seat.