Community is something that Longwood has cultivated very well, and was one of the reason Community is something that Longwood has cultivated very well, and is one of the reasons why I choose to be at Longwood. To me, community represents the people an individual decides to influence for better or for worst. As I have navigated my way through my education, I have encountered several communities which have shaped my perception in some shape or form. Three communities have affected me the most while staying here at Longwood: the Honors College, the GAND department, and the business program.
The Honors College is a community I have been in since the beginning, and compared to the me I was in the beginning, I am very different now. When I first came to Longwood, I was overly timid to the point where it was crippling, but I have grown immensely since then; because of the people I have met and the knowledge, I have gained. It was in Wheeler Hall where I met one of my friends and now roommate during a time when I struggled with who I am and what I want to become. He helped me through some tough times by being around and showing me that I could have some fun while in a rough patch.
It was also through the Honors classes that I discovered a passion I had not explored and found something I want to pursue for a future job. In Honors 410, I found I wanted to start my own business, where I use my graphic design and animation skills to make merchandise, videos, and board games. I created a successful prototype for a board game in that class and have continued to work on this project since then. The more I pursue this dream, the more doors open for prospects. It probably will not be my primary job, but I wish to make it my main source of income in the future. The opportunity I created has led me to meet interesting people and ideas I would not have imagined pursuing. For this reason, I thank the Honors College for guiding me on this path.
My major at this Longwood is the GAND major, or Graphic and Animation Design, and it has been a difficult journey because of the trials I have experienced. These trials mainly included doubts about not being good enough or feeling overworked and on the verge of collapse. I grew stronger from these experiences and have learned how to be professional. I have learned to take criticism and improve myself, as I once was defensive about my creations. If nothing else, my major has shown me what I am compatible of doing, allowing me to keep pushing on when times get rough and to be confident in my abilities as an artist. At times, I would look at my classmates’ art pieces and wonder, “why am I here? I am not as good as them.” Now I am one of four animation students still present since the beginning. I can find pride in that fact. I may not be the best person who animates, but I do pretty well, at the very least.
My major has also given me the skills to realize my dream above with my business. I can now use various art programs allowing me to create quality work. I have an eye for things that look good and bad in a 2D and 3D environment. I know how to create art that I want to make, or at least the ability to figure out how to do it. This program has strengthened my skills to a sharp point allowing me to cut away the fears I once had. I see myself being able to run a business based on what I make because I believe I can do it. For these reasons, I thank the GAND Department.
I have a business administration minor, and at first, I only took it to make my resume more well-rounded and appealing to employers, which is a valid reason. I started taking classes in it and realized that these skills could be helpful for the future I desire. I knew one thing that I did not want to do was a job that works in a cubicle where I take orders from some unseen figure. Not all jobs are like this, but it is a future I want to avoid nonetheless, and these courses subtly pointed me in a direction where the freedom I wanted was possible. It might not be immediately after college, but I can start laying the groundwork for it, and that is the dream business I have been describing. This minor has shown me the logistics behind such a feat, starting a business, and has given me the know-how to accomplish it. Every professor I have met has given me some form of truth I have held onto to succeed. I understand that this dream may not be a thing that starts immediately after college, but it is the fact that this community has given me a choice to pursue, and that choice excites me. For that reason, I thank the business college.