The Wrong Reasons

As I walked into class today there was this girl from the previous class going on and on about how all she really wants is an “A” in this class, and how sometimes she questions whether or not she should be an animator because of not getting said “A.” 

I really wanted to turn around and say to her that maybe she should quit and to go and find something else to do with her life. Because in all honesty, if your doing anything simply to get an “A,” your doing it for the wrong reasons. With all the times I had been stressing out over my senior film this past year, I wouldn’t exchange that experience for anything in the world, because I can’t imagine myself doing anything else but creating art. I graduate from college in 6 weeks, and when I do, there won’t be a single company out there that will care about my GPA. I am perfectly content with getting a “B,” because I know that I did the best that I could. Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try to get good grades, but if good grades are the only thing that you strive for, then you seriously need to revaluate your life. Life isn’t about getting recognition, because we will most likely never receive it. Life is about the relationships that we share and the passions that we have in order for us to keep going. Without passion, we have nothing. 

One of my professors even posted on his blog about what it means to be an “A” student, and I couldn’t agree more. Here’s the list:

Characteristics of an “A” Student

1. An “A” student never thinks of their grade as they work on projects. They are creating artwork.

2. An ”A” student never tells me how hard they worked on a project. They were unaware of how much time they spent on a project. For the “A” student the activity was not work…it was joy in the art making process.

3. An ”A” student never misses class…NEVER. Not because they are trying to please the teacher but because they enjoy the course content and the class dynamic. They would rather be in class than elsewhere.

4. An ”A” student is totally involved from the first class to the last. Their effort is even and steady and comes from a love for exploration, creating and learning.

5. An ”A” student never works to please the teacher but rather to explore and refine the expression of their artistic impulses.

6. An “A” student hands in work on time even when equipment fails.

7. An ”A” student knows of all the gods that affect our lives the art god is far more significant than the grade god.

8. An ”A” student is learning to welcome the Muses. Seeking an “A”, by comparison, is a trivial endeavor.

9. An “A” student is self-motivated and focused on problem solving.

10. An “A” student never whines, complains, or offers excuses.

I Can Now Say that I Played Pictionary with a Disney Animator

I had the privilege to listen to one of my animation professor’s testimony, and how faith and art relate to each other.  It was awesome listening to him being completely frank about what he believes and what lead him to believe those things. The man worked at Disney for TEN YEARS. He worked on Fantasia 2000, Pocahontas, Lilo and Stitch, and Brother Bear to name a few. The fact that he didn’t let the Hollywood system get to him and his continued pursuit of truth was just inspiring. Yeah… I think that’s all I’m going to say. :)

We then also played Pictionary afterwards. It was awesome.

TRUTH

tlrblair:

“you just gotta do what you feel
And not care.”

-Kate Wimer