My least favourite pet...

I hate when I share a story with someone about a special moment or accomplishment and am met with unsolicited advice. Not only does that take away from the point of me sharing my happy news with you but it is an insult to my intelligence.

I am sure they mean well when trying to "guide me" but it feels more like I am being patronized. Like it isn't possible for me to comprehend what I should do next. The advice they give me is such common sense that I become easily irritated. It makes me want to respond with sarcastic and snarky remarks.

Me: "Look at this cool milestone I just reached!"
Person: "That's nice, but (insert unsolicited advice here)"
Me: "Oh, thank the heavens for your infinite knowledge! A lay person, like I, would have never been able to reach such a verdict on my own. I will be forever guided by your wisdom. Praise (insert name here)!"

It also makes me want to scream "NO SHIT!" 

I wasn't born yesterday. Not only that, but I have been on my own for a very long time now...without parents or family.  I have lost it all, overcome homelessness, and started my life over from scratch. I have learned many life lessons and have done quite an excellent job at getting to where I am today. All of which I have done without genius advice from others.

When I do feel like I could use some perspective I seek out those I respect, present my situation, and ask them for their input. After collecting multiple views on the matter I then take time to process it all and make the best decision for myself. I have learned how to be successful through the relationships I have built with those who are already successful, the relationships I have built with those I have seen go from "nowhere" to somewhere, and through taking every opportunity that comes my way. I have faced some of my greatest fears and challenges to become the person I am today. Those who know of my accomplishments and character never feel the need to change the focus of my achievements to what they think I should be doing. They celebrate with me and know I am more than capable of taking care of my business.

I know a part of this advice is given with good intentions. I have to appreciate that. I can't expect those people to know what is going on in my life in order for them to make a more informed remark about my situation. Only a handful of people know the entirety of what I am involved in and the path I am on. If everyone else knew, perhaps it would prevent verbal diarrhea.

And as you can probably tell if you have read this far, unsolicited advice, even when it comes from a good place, drives me up the freaking wall. Suffice it to say, this is a major pet peeve.

Post-Graduation

As I enter my senior year at Emerson College, friends and family alike have been asking me the age old question, "What are you going to do?" This is always followed by, "Where do you want to go?" "Will you stay in Boston?" "Have you considered moving to LA or NYC?"

My answer is always simple-- "I am going to go wherever life takes me."  That isn't to say I haven't played a huge role in my own success thus far, because I have. I have hustled my arse off to be where I am today. I will continue to hustle. A lot can happen in one year. How am I to know where I will end up? Who I might meet? Or the opportunities that will come my way?

When I transferred to Emerson last year I had no idea the opportunities that await me. I was new all over again. I had zero connections there. I was like Bambi as he took his first steps. Fast forward to a year later and I have spent my summer doing TV production work for the Red Sox, am helping to produce several films for award winning filmmakers, was sought out for my first paid video production gig, and just received an email from an amazing documentary production company wanting to set up a phone interview with me as I hope to intern for them this fall.

I will reiterate, in one year, who knows who I will meet, work with, or where I will end up? The only plan I can have is to continue hustling. A few months prior to graduation I will begin job hunting...if I don't already have a prospective job lined up by then. For the right career opportunity, I am willing to relocate. I am also available to travel for my work. Whatever is waiting for me I will find it. But, until the time has come for this all I can tell you now is, I will be ok.

There is no better feeling than being rewarded for your hard work. Only 5 were chosen for this internship opportunity out of who knows how many applicants. I am proud to say I am one of the chosen 5!

If you watch the Red Sox on NESN this summer you will be seeing my work!  The only details I have thus far is that I will be doing camera op work from right field as well as other production duties. I will be at two Red Sox games a week. 

Bask in the envy. ;P

I have spent my entire life daydreaming of all the things I want to do and who I want to be. And though I have made great strides to get to where I want to be (still making them) I can’t help but get depressed by the thoughts that make me the happiest. 

I will spend days daydreaming about shows I want to work on, actors I want to work with, and directors/writers I want to collaborate with, as well as the name I want to build for myself. I have meaningful goals and I have vain ones. Both hold great importance to me. 

After spending so much time in my head as the person I want to be doing the things I want to do I come back to reality. My reality is far from bad and yet because it isn’t what I fantasize about I get down on myself.

I feel so far from that place I want to be. I am but a mere student. A student with all these aspirations filling her head and heart. I play my part by contacting people who work in the industry and building relationships. I am an intern at a great company and hope to intern at many more during my time at Emerson. I do all that is in my power to create or seize opportunities so that I may gain the experience necessary to one day “be enough” for the positions I wish to hold during my career. 

Everyone who knows me— friends, colleagues, and strangers alike all tell me I am going to “make it.” They “see something in me.” It is a very nice sentiment… I just wish I could see it in myself. 

Will I look back as a successful producer/director/writer/whateveritisiammeantotbe and laugh at how hard I was on myself?

Or, will I still be fighting for that dream?

"I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn’t."

The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)

To the most wonderful woman I have ever known

Dorked out and made a future ‘About’ section for my Facebook. ‘Tis wishful thinking. Who knows which path I am meant to actually go down. Whichever path that is, I can tell you this, I will be happy and I will be successful. My hard work and passion will lead me somewhere great.