Doing What You Love Matters Most

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/education/26HUMANITIES.html?_r=1&sq=The%20Humanities%20for%20Love,%20Not%20Money&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1282914130-FVvGqAPbzl7AgpPW9Y4pUg

I just finished reading an article from the New York Times ( I know I'm one of the few weirdo 18 year olds who actually read the newspaper) and fell in love with this it! It talks about how all the statistics point to the fact that interest in degrees in the humanities and arts are growing after the recession. I've always thought it was more important to do what you love rather than what was going to make you a millionaire. I figure that if you are doing what makes you happy, everything else will just fall into place, and honestly, I've heard being a millionaire isn't all it's cracked up to be anyway. I'm so glad to see the growing trend of lawyers, doctors, and business-people who continue their education and decide to look into a field in the arts or humanities. Few people realize how important they really are, but when you think about it, our society and cultures would not be the way they are without our basic knowledge of the arts and humanities and a desire to delve more deeply into that knowledge, regardless of the kind of pay you know you will be receiving, I respect that so much. So to all my family that put down my goals of getting an art degree with a minor in art history and business, here's to you: I'm going to do what I love, I'm going to love what I do and I'm going to be so much happier than the rest of America!

So Many Choices, Such a Big Decision...Decision Made!

Today I opened my e-mails and found two acceptance letters to both Florida International University (which is very close to my home) and University of Central Florida (four hours away. After believing all this time that I was going to have to attend community college for two years, this is such a relief to me and yet such a mission. Now I have to choose between two excellent schools.

The decision isn't too hard to make once I looked at the pros and cons of attending each school.

Pros for Attending FIU:

• Do not have to pay extra to rent a room or stay in dorms
• Do not have to pay for food
• Staying near friends
• Great School with good credentials
• Offers programs I am interested in studying
• Can save up for study abroad programs
• Gives me time to save money to buy a car, camera equipment and for living expenses after college

Cons for Attending FIU:

• Close to home, staying with family, not leaving the nest, etc.
• In Miami; I hate Miami
• Not getting the full college experience

Pros for Attending UCF:

• Great School with great credentials
• Beautiful campus that I am in love with
• Has programs that I am interested in pursuing
• Living on my own, four hours away from home
• Not too expensive
• Starting early

Cons for Attending UCF:

• Must get a job up there.
• Costs more than FIU, especially because of living expenses.
• Must have a car for graduation which means waiting on a camera and the start of my photography career.
• Less friends in Orlando, loneliness can be a bitch.
• Cannot participate in Study Abroad Programs because of having to pay extra for living expenses

As you can see, the amount of cons for UCF is startling. Honestly, if money wasn't an issue, UCF would be the first and only choice. I absolutely love that school: its location, programs, campus life, dorms, food, entertainment, etc. However, going to UCF would mean taking out a student loan and not being able to go to study abroad and working my butt off on top of school, rather than having work be second fiddle to school. As a result, FIU seems to be the best option for me and if it turns out that by my junior year I can or want to transfer to UCF and I have the means to most of my credits, if not all of them would transfer to other state schools.

So I shall be attending Florida International University for approximately the next four years of my life, presumably attaining a BFA in Visual Arts with a track in Photography and minoring in Entrepeneurship.

Congratulations Danielle Fox. You have been accepted at Florida International University for the Fall Term 2010. FIU, here I come!

FSPA Journalism Convention in Tampa

So I tried to update this blog while I was away this weekend in Tampa for the state journalism convention, but for some reason, fancy hotels think you should pay for wireless internet on top of the exorbitant prices you are paying for the room when even a crappy Days Inn provides free Wi-Fi and breakfast. Well, anyway, so now is when I can finally update.

So, as I was saying, this past weekend I was in Tampa for FSPA where I learned a lot of journalistic skills, things I can do to help our school publication, visited the University of Tampa, and even visited the city of Downtown Tampa. All in all, it was an amazing trip and I had a blast while learning an awful lot.

At FSPA we took part in these seminars where I learned about the convergence of news media, photoshop skills, getting jobs in journalism and sports photography and how to get the best effects. These seminars gave me an idea of what I would want to do if I were to have a career in journalism.communications.

I definitely am not a news writer. It's not something I really want to do, I'm not passionate bout it, but I really do have a passion for meeting and interviewing people as well as photography. Something that is becoming very important in the new convergence of media. There were all these really cool slide-shows the advisers showed us of picture slideshows with audio behind them of either background noise or interview with the subject. Something I think I would be very capable of doing and actually enjoy doing. So I still think a career in journalism is feasible for me.

I also learned a lot about photography, like what kind of lenses to use for certain things and that shutter speed and ISO need to be controlled for certain photographs and that flash photography is harsh and unnecessary unless you are photographing sports because it stops the action and then it is only  effective if the action is close enough to receive the flash. But that got me into thinking that I need a new camera... a good one. So im going to write up a wish list of things I want for graduation since it seems that I will be living at home for college in any case.

This is the Nikon D300S. $1,699.95 It comes with:

• EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
• MH-18a Quick Charger
• UC-E4 USB Cable
• EG-D2 Video Cable
• AN-DC4 Strap
• BM-8 LCD monitor cover
• Body cap
• DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
• DK-23 Rubber Eyecup
• Software Suite CD-ROM

 The Sony A380. $1050 (two lens kit) Although the A230 and A330 are fine as well and are cheaper.

The Canon EOS50D. $1099.99. It comes with:

	EOS 50D Body
	Eyecup Eb
	Wide Neck Strap EW-EOS 50D
	Video Cable VC-100 (D)
	USB Interface Cable IFC-200U
	Battery Pack BP-511A
	Battery Charger CG-580
	"Great Photography is Easy" Booklet and "Do More with Macro" Booklet
	EOS Digital Solution CD
	Software Instruction Manual

Nikon D90. $899. This one was recommended to me by my cousin. I looked up the specs and it seems like more of a possibility than the D300S. Comes with:

• EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
• MH-18a Quick Charger
• DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
• DK-21 Rubber Eyecup
• UC-E4 USB Cable
• EG-D2 Audio Video Cable
• AN-DC1 Camera Strap
• BM-10 LCD Monitor Cover
• Body Cap
• BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover
• Software Suite CD-ROM

 The Camera my cousin has is a Nikon D60. $649.95. Comes with:

• EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
• MH-23 Quick Charger
• UC-E4 USB Cable
• DK-20 Rubber Eyecup
• AN-DC1 Camera Strap
• BF-1A Body Cap
• DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
• BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover
• Software Suite CD-ROM

Pentax K-x. $599.95 for black, red, navy blue or white camera. $649.95 for the green, blue, purple or orange camera. Comes with:

• K-x Black
• DA L 18-55
• Software CD-ROM S-SW99
• USB Cable I-USB7
• Strap O-ST53
• Hotshoe Cover FK
• Eyecup FQ
• Body Mount cover
• AA lithium batteries (*4) 

The Pentax actually seems to be a really good camera for the best price out there, which means that considering that I payed less for the camera, I would have money to buy a tripod, external flash or extra lenses. 

 

In any case, I need a good digital SLR camera and these are my options. Taking the advice of one of the speakers at the convention I plan to create business cards and start photographing events for pay during the summer and building a repertoire for myself. I'll start with little things like family parties, but I hope to eventually do maybe bigger weddings or other events like sports games, recitals, Broadway shows, etc. And I think I can do it. Why not? Someone has to. It may as well be me.

 

At FSPA I also made the decision that I am not going to study journalism necessarily. I don't have to. I can major in something completely opposite and still have a career in photojournalism. So I think I am going to get a degree in business management and minor in photography/photojournalism. But first I am going to go to Miami Dade College. At least for my Associates degree, which I will do in photography. After all, I'm just going to be taking classes that I'll have to take at any other four year university except I'll be paying more for it. And then after my two years are up and I've hopefully made a little money, I'll go to a unversity (not sure which one yet) and I'll make my start there.

 

All in all, FSPA was an amazing experience for me. I had fun and learned a lot and now I am planning for my future.

 

 *This is a photo of me and some of my newspaper staff colleagues as we had fun in Downtown Tampa.

Fox Books and Cafe: Dream or Possible Reality??

Remember how I have been thinking of late where my life might lead and what it is I might do with my life. I want it to be something that I enjoy, something I excel at, and something that I am passionate about. Yes, the big cahoona of dreams is to be a photojournalist for National Geographic Magazine, but I also have this dream where I own a small Bookshop/Cafe. Something intimate and cozy, perhaps in New York City or Chicago or Boston, definitely NOT Miami. I'd have a small kitchen and I'd hire a chef, specializing in soups, desserts and pastries, breakfast foods, etc. I'd order books: popular fiction and non-fiction, local writer's works, poetry, old books, little novellas, travels guides, etc. I could hold Open Mic Nights and have book signings. There would be bookshelves all over the place and small tables, couches and wi-fi. Maybe I could have a  used books section, and donors can get discounts on their next purchase. There is so much that you can do if you own your own little business and everyone loves a little cafe where you can read, work and where social events sometimes take place. And this dream is very much so a possibility. All that I'd need to do is learn a little bit of business management, how to do taxes for a business, figure out salaries and paying bills and how to order merchandise for the shop, get a loan to buy a facility and all the necessities to set it up and advertising. I mean yes it is a lot but it sounds like a possibility and a very doable thing. Something I'd find a challenge, but something I can take pride in. Combining two of my passions: food and books. And if it hits off, either because it is well advertised or because I find the right venue with the right clientele, then perhaps it is something I can also be successful at. It's just a dream, only a possibility right now, but maybe one day it will be a reality and people will walk by and into The Fox Shop... or Fox Books and Cafe... or Little House on the Lane/Avenue/Road/Street/whatever... I don't know the name yet. That's going to be important though. Many people walk into most shops just because they are intrigued by their name or because, based on the name, they figure they can find what they are looking for there. But I have time to find a name yet. I still have to see if this is the final dream. If this is what I really want to do. And then if I decide to go through with it, then I still have to be educated in the business world, and build a good credit so I can move and make that loan. It seems very possible though... So keep your eyes out wherever you are. There just mat be a new venue coming to your town in a couple years.

Ranting and Raving, Depression, and PMS

Sometimes I get a little down about life and I start to worry that maybe everything isn't going to work out all right and that I'll be struggling for the rest of my life for goals that will never be accomplished, that I'm just not capable of and I know it is ridiculous to think that way since I am only 17 and have my whole life ahead of me as I know it, but it just seems so likely that I'm going to fail. I'm going to be a loser, a failure, one of those people that I just can't stand, that had so much potential and did nothing with their lives... Despite how hard I've worked for my grades my whole life and my pretty spectacular GPA, I haven't been accepted to the school I wanted to go to so am instead attending a community college, I can't seem to get a job anywhere even with all the people I supposedly know that can "hook it up" for me, if I don't have a job that means I can't move out, and since I can't get into the college I want, my career will have to start later than I wanted if it ever happens at all with the way this black cloud is following me around. I know this is a rant, probably hormonally based and that you probably want to slap me right now. But i just really need to scream right now.

My Career Options

OK so I'm here at school. and, by the way, I think it's totally awesome I can update my blog at school :) I was thinking about all the times that I've changed my mind about what I want to do with my life and how I still want to do all of these things!

I've gone from wanting to be a teacher, to wanting to be a novelist, to wanting to be a Broadway actress, to wanting to be a journalist, to wanting to be a journalist for National Geographic Magazine, to wanting to be a photojournalist for National Geographic Magazine, to wanting to be a columnist, like a how-to girl for some magazine like Cosmo, to wanting to be a publisher, to wanting to be a photographer, and now to work in graphic design.... Yeah, the list is very long.

Right now I should be working on an article in newspaper, especially since I'm supposed to be setting an example since I'm Sports Editor and what-not, however, I couldn't get the topic of my career out of my head.

First of all, I've realized that I have to do something that I like because, if not, I'm going to end up getting fired from every job I get. I think I've narrowed down what my dream jobs are.

1) On-Staff Photojournalist for National Geographic Magazine, or a similar style of magazine. A job like that I will never be bored in. I will get sent on expeditions to photograph, so I will see the world, I'll get to photograph what I see and I'll get to edit my photographs, which I love to do. Basically, the perfect place for me to be. Whether it is possible or not, I have no idea, but I will try to make it happen.

2) A book publisher or editor. I'm not sure which one it is, but the one who reads manuscripts and then decide which ones are going to be published and set up the book tours and get the design for the cover and all that other stuff. A job where I can read all day and get excited about a book and help an author make it big! Kind of philanthropic in the way that I think about it.

So, I really think those are my two dream jobs, but I'm also really interested in graphic design right now. You know, making advertisements, book covers, laying out magazine/newspaper pages, web pages, etc. I've only just started learning about it, but I'm really excited about it and I think I might do well at it as well as being entertained.

I don't know exactly what I will be doing in the future. My mom says she can see me going places, but I'm pretty sure that's what all moms are supposed to say. For right now, I have ideas about where I want to go and what I want to do. I'll just have to wait and see what it is the future has in store for me. As long as it isn't failure, I think I will be content.