Wednesday, September 26, 2007
9/26/07 Uncommon Genius 3
“To take on risk, you need to conquer fear, at least temporarily, at least occasionally. It can be done, especially if you look outside yourself for a strong ledge to stand on, at least temporarily, at least occasionally.” (Shekerjian pg. 31) What risk are you taking on? When you need a ledge, to what/whom do you turn?
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I think some of the risks I’m taking are if I’m going in the direction I want to go in life. If this is really what I want to do, and how do you know if this is something you’re going to want to do for the rest of your life. It’s a risk doing anything when you are unsure of how it will turn out. But I’m putting all doubt aside and doing it anyways, and that is a chance that I am willing to take. Without risk, you wouldn’t be taking any chances. Without chances, you would never find something new that you enjoy doing. When I need a “ledge” to stand on, I go for runs, I run without music, and I think about my life and what I really want to do, I get done a lot of thinking that way. I go to my close friends and family for advice, which sometimes helps also.
By accepting graphic communications as my career choice is a risk in itself. Every day the decisions I make are risks. Even when I am playing lacrosse the risk of losing the ball to the opposing team, not stepping out of goal, saving the ball are all risks that have a positive or negative consequence. By knowing my comfort zones or the “strong ledge” as Shekerjian states, you know what risks you can or can not take. I think the risks I am taking with graphics is not knowing if I am going to make it once I get out of school. Right now my designs might be loved by people in the Franklin Pierce community, but will they be loved in the real world? This is the risk I am taking on. As for the “solid ledge” I always seem to turn to my father. No matter if I agree or disagree with what he is saying, I always seem to fall back to him.
By deciding to enter the world of graphic design I’m taking on a huge risk. The market is incredibly competitive. Look at our next project; everyone in the class will be “fighting” to get their poster picked. I’m taking on the risk of needing to cease being shy to be successful in the future. And because I chose Franklin Pierce, that’s approximately a $160,000 risk. When I need a ledge to stand on, I look to my friends and family, and the occasional professor, who have been incredibly supportive and helpful throughout my life.
-Jay Sennott
The risk I’m taking on, other than the obvious “risking my grade” is risking my reputation with my high profile position on the Pierce Arrow and within the Graphic Design Club. Oh, and co-chairing the Outreach Committee for the Honors Advisory Board. This is a rather small campus, meaning that if I’m found unreliable, it’ll get around. Not that I’m expecting that I won’t do what I’m supposed to, but I think with my zeal of trying to do everything I can, I’m going to wear myself out quite quickly.
Maybe that’s not a risk, just a bit of a fear. Am I risking my future? Everything that I do in college seems to relate to the “future.” Where do I see myself going? That’s a different question entirely. This is a rather competitive field, where your friend in class might one day be the one to get the job you wanted. I’m risking time, my parent’s money, my future money that’s in the loans, my own confidence in my own abilities.
Nothing worthwhile is truly risk-free, is it? For example in photography, you risk all your pictures when you go to develop the negatives. Something completely beyond your control can completely ruin something you invested time, effort, money, and possibly a grade on. Life is always like that. Even stepping out of my door in the morning runs the risk of me twisting my ankle and falling.
As I write this, I risk sounding like a babbling idiot. But I don’t think that is what the question is truly asking. I am an outspoken person, and I think that means that I risk sounding like an idiot, for lack of a better word, in order to get my opinion heard. I quash any fears so I can say what needs to be said, do what needs to be done.
Whenever I need a “ledge,” I turn to my mother or my boyfriend. My best friend lately has had many personal troubles, and uses me as her ledge, so I would shy away from making things worse for her. My mother always knows when to give advice, and when to just listen, something I joke she learned in Mother School. Still, there are some times that my mom can get overly concerned when I just need to vent. She’s all for reassurances and moral support, but as a mother, she wants to make everything better, and sometimes that’s not what I need. That’s why my boyfriend is sometimes a lifesaver. He’s a great listener, and he has more confidence in me that I do sometimes. He doesn’t tell me to stop worrying, or that my concerns are silly, but he supports me. And that is what everyone needs: a person that will take you seriously, and listen no matter what it is that is bothering you. Because I have some people to lean on, if needed, I find it is easier to take on risks, or at least feel like the world won’t end if things go badly.
I’m taking a risk by trying to pursue a self-designed major in architecture at a school with no architecture courses. I’m trying to mix together fine art, technical theater and graphic design in hopes I’ll have some sort of understanding when I get to an architecture grad school. It’s also risky because it’s unlikely I’ll get a job in the career of my major until I’ve completed grad school. I’m investing a huge amount of money in hopes I’ll get a job that will pay off my student loans, without paying them my whole life. I’m also hoping that I’ll be successful at the career I pursue as well as enjoy it.
My ledge is definitely my mom, she can help me solve anything. Well not technically, after talking to her, I feel like I can solve anything, she gives me ideas even when she’s not trying. Sometimes I don’t feel like bothering her, then I have another ledge: the woods. I love nature and I grew up surrounded by it: fields, forests, lakes, animals. If I can go outside and be alone with “the world” I can clear my head, reflect on thoughts, and gain confidence; it’s the only thing that I know will never change yet is always changing, it is real, and that brings me down to earth.
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