2) University starts soon
When you have to make choices that can change your path
I'm a mature student doing a career change in my late 20ies. My degree is graphic design - which was a dream come true to be able to go and study it. However ... over the last year and the whole summer all I was working on personally and passionate about was Illustration. We can choose an illustration pathway but I initially signed up for communication to have more options.
The whole thing of liking both really threw me into a tight spot. After speaking to my personal tutor on Monday I will have the chance to attend both pathway lectures for 4 weeks to help me make a - very late - choice. This is going to make the first month much more intense than it would need to be - but I can't feel peaceful about my choice without having given Illustration a chance.
"The reason I'm doing uni - again - was that I did in fact not choose a creative career when I was younger"
Living without regret
I don't know how you chose your creative career. The reason I'm doing uni - again - was that I did in fact not choose a creative career when I was younger. I was scared - scared of many things, not having money, not being good enough etc.
Now, more than 10 years later I decided that, for me, living with uncertainty is far better than living with regret. I still don't like uncertainty, I still have fears - they creep up in the worst moments when I need to make decisions, always calling me for the 'safe' option. Reality is, that nothing is really 'safe' in the creative industries. Things change at a rapid pace. More and more people are able to learn and practice creative skills and certain jobs become obsolete.
Essential skill sets
What I have learned so far is that creating a job for yourself is one of the basic skill sets that you need nowadays, much more than being able to use the most recent version of Adobe CC. This includes essential skills like running a business, being self motivated, doing your paper work or marketing yourself. You could be a creative genius but if you never show the world what you've got to give - frankly speaking, it will be hard for you to be successful. On the other hand if you always give your skills away for too little - you can be very busy but very poor.
Is Illustration a 'safe' choice?
Probably not. Would I love to develop my skills in this area? Yes. Would I easily get a job? Probably not. Do I have the skill set to make myself a job and run a business? I think so. Is illustration needed nowadays? Definitely! Would I love working in this field - yes I think I would.
I feel I'm learning all these skills and I want to believe that I am capable of running my own business because of my experience, my business and social sciences background and my personality. I am and was always very driven and self motivated. I don't need someone to pull me out of bed because I love to be active and I love creating.
"I really didn't enjoy business school. I guess it was mostly because it had no relation to reality at that time - whereas now - this is my key to joy, financial independence and having a family while working"
Since I started Romica Jones Design in October 2015 I also began to love business - and people who know me will be surprised because I really didn't enjoy business school. I guess it was mostly because it had no relation to reality at that time - whereas now - this is my key to joy, financial independence and having a family while working.
These are my reasons at the moment and they might change but I feel I should dare to try. In the end I'm still graduating with a graphic design degree. I will still work and improve all my skills that I need as a designer or illustrator.
So yeah, this decision scares me, because I feel it will have quite a big impact on my future - but again - I don't want to make a decision out of fear.
If you are or have been in a similar situation, I'd love to hear from you,
Have a wonderful day,
Romica
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