As I find myself only days away from the start of my senior year of college, I thought it was the most personally appropriate time for me to take a quick assessment of my life so far. I've always wanted to put pen to paper ("finger to key" just doesn't have that glossy, intrepid ring to it) and document my psychological and spiritual growth over the past few years, but I never took the initiative...until now...ish.Â
   I finally decided to get on with it already! because I have found myself in a place of pure happiness, comfort, and satisfaction. I feel like I'm mildly cheating myself when I say that I'm lucky to be occupying this metaphysical position (although I'm not completely dismissing my luck in life. I know I am more privileged than others, but that conversation is for a different time.). In my view, this sense of pride, this flutter I feel in my chest when I think about where I am in life and what I have accomplished have crystallized from unrelenting hard work, passion, and determination. Sidenote: No I am not here to give a locker-room speech about building character and drinking milk. I just feel like talking.
   People can tell you otherwise, but I think a fulfilling life (or even day!) comes from knowing what you want and aiming to reach that goal. At least to me, my passion for filmmaking has given me direction on this long and winding road. That's my conviction, I guess.Â
   Let me sew an appendage to that last statement; I've learned (and continue to reap the benefits of) the importance of communication. I was a timid kid growing up, not to mention an only child (not that that always correlates with shyness). I couldn't order my own meals at restaurants without suffering from a minor panic attack until I was 10. Confrontation spooked me. One way or another, I knew I was going to fuck up and somehow order meatloaf instead of a burger. It was pitifully inevitable. But once I started to take action on achieving my aspirations did I build up a sense of confidence. I ask more questions now, although, at times, most notably in a classroom setting (guilty), I still battle that shy, hesitant demon due to fear of furrowed brows (silly dichotomous society). Besides that, though, I find genuine pleasure in picking the brains of my peers, professors, and heroes. I have always considered myself a sponge, soaking up every drop of new information people throw at me so that I can grow as an informed, active participant in my local and global community. Now, sandwiching this trait with my expanding sense of initiative (thanks college and independence!), I think I'm set up pretty well for a *prolific* life. Â
   Nike got it right -- Just do it. I finally took that slogan to heart and adopted it as one of my own mottos when I was trying to make it through production of my first directorial project alive. Who knew such a simple string of words could have such a lasting impact? Sometimes it needs repeating. Just do it. Get it done. You'll thank me later. It's all about taking initiative. Doing things on your own to get what you want. We can't be spoon-fed forever. Sometimes we need to be our own pioneers. It just makes that achieving moment all the more fulfilling.
   That's how I got here. Aspiring Senior (who am I kidding, I'm literally face-to-face with day one of the fall semester) at a university that I'm happy to call home (it's not without its flaws, but it fills me with pride to know that I will always be a member of a progressive, inspiring institution). Overcoming that 1% chance of successfully flipping from a Film Studies major to a Film Production major with an emphasis in cinematography, so I could better pursue my tenacious passion that I've harbored since I was nine years old. Video Production intern at a personally beloved and expanding production company. At this moment, I'm in my happy place. I am surrounded by stellar people who feed me knowledge and give me new opportunities to grab hold of. I can't help but constantly say yes, because I know it means I get to deposit more gems into my experience bank. And so, to me, I think I've figured out my own personal idea of the secret to happiness: doing what you love, and loving what you do. That cheddar cheesy quote from Perks of Being a Wallflower has never felt so relevant.Â
