Since You've Been Gone... scratch that I've been gone.

I am sorry for the delay in posting. I drafted this a while ago and by that I mean two weeks ago and didn't click PUBLISH. Lo siento.

Five people now inhibit my apartment in New York (really the apartment of my friend's great aunt). Me, my three roommates, and Aunt Helen are trying to live happily ever after in the two-bedroom New York apartment. Honestly it is a beautiful and large apartment that I was blessed to have, but I was obviously woken from my comfortable state of living when Helen decided to return early. My mom saying, "Don't get too comfortable," in an I-told-you-so manner popped up in my head. It didn't make sense... I still had a bed to myself and was still comfy. So what did that mean?

In some situations it is a reference to being over-indulgent. Taking more than you need, and when others need the excess, you must sit back up and only occupy cushion of the couch, not the entire thing. However, in this situation the comfort of my daily schedule, the bigger picture is more appropriate. I did not care that the aunt was in the apartment, and even thought I, the artsy one, would be the one to love her uniqueness. (I did enjoy her being there and changing up the couple and two roommates dynamic a bit.)

I was comfortable going to work. Walk a block, cross, one street, go down the steps, swipe my month Metro pass, walk all the way down the platform, get on the 2nd car so in two stops I am directly at the 40th and 7th exit. I knew than to exit right walk by the small vendor and barbershop to street level. I would walk less than two blocks and go through the gold revolving doors, pass the lobby employee with a smile, and ride the second bank of elevators to 27. I did this well, and I did my job even better. I would arrive at ten each day to set up my laptop in the conference room and check my WORK email.

I would ask my boss for daily tasks and work on longer projects. I finished what was asked and did a bit more. I was devoted to my tasks no matter how menial they may be to overall production of oh-so-many deliveries of seasons each year.

I was tempted by jokes to quit school and work. Why do you go to school? To get a job I want would be the previous answer, but what if I had one lined up? I need a better answer if my family is supporting me to take classes, understand a field that interests me and meet new people.

I needed to learn more. I need to know what is behind all this 'good design.' I have the base knowledge that could let me update tech-packs in Illustrator, change the colors of it’s, and even place graphics on garments. But, I learned that although this was design, it was minimal and manufactured. I want organic design and to be able to create my visions, rather than being told the base and accent colors. I mean I did no some blind decisions this summer, and actually was confident in them. I just want to be able to do my thing, enjoy college, and learn all I can so that I can be inspired for a career, even if it is working behind someone else's vision. School is your chance to create what you want, within your professor’s guidelines. I want to be able to create graphic projects from start to finish to see the process I enjoy most and where I need to improve my skills or craft.

I could have a job, but without by degree and the four years of hard work behind it I could just work. I could live of the income, get some free clothes, and even enjoy the environment but I hadn't put my time in. My Illustrator skills definitely improved working with it everyday; and that is a testament to the Co-o motto of learning in the real world.

The reality is your work, most of the time, will not be yours. Whether you work as a designer for a brand, or a banker, what you do at your job is part of the job and I see how America gets a case of the Mondays. Work is hard and my 40-hour weeks proved why people are tired when then come home. I saw my week as a challenge and fun because I knew it was for the summer, and I was having the most real work experience (BEFORE MY CO-OP).