Just the Beginning

So I'm not sure if anyone is listening, but this is my first ever blog post on my first ever website…It has been a loooooooong time coming. 

Let me give you some information about who I am (in fast forward) 

I am a "BlackaRican" (Black/ Puertorican) born and raised in the wonderful city of Boston.

In middle school I was sent to a summer camp for engineering (? I wasn't too thrilled). But thennn…this laid back teacher stuck a camera in my hand and taught me how to develop and print my own film and I kind of fell in love with the craft.

I Took pictures all through middle and high school in my own time, photographing and editing for hours at a time.

Next, during my last two months of high school, I left on a student exchange trip to China. The deal was I could go as long as I did homework there and created an art portfolio for my AP class. I thought I was going to sketch my way through China but I was missing one point- I don't like to draw- okay well I'm just not that great at it- okay you caught me I don't have the patience for it. Sooo instead of drawing I took lots and lots of photographs

I got back to school two months later- panicked. I had no work to show my teacher. I tried to avoid her at all cost and one day she found me looking through my photographs from China on the computer…"Wow! This is your portfolio work?! she said"…Why yes it is….(Now) =) "hmmm You kind of have an eye for photography you should study it."

And I thought to myself- NO. I need to make a living…are you crazy?  

So I graduated high school and studied education while working in special needs classrooms. Yet again I was surprised- I loved being in the classroom…my student quickly became like family. 

BUT I would catch myself thinking and thinking and thinking about photography and art school. So what do you think I did next? …..Drum rollllllll please….

Yup, you guessed it! I stayed in school for education and continued to work- Go me! 

…I took the "safe" route until...

"Safe" meant getting laid off every summer due to budget cuts and school closings and I said. I might as will tough it out going after my passion.

And here I am a rising Junior at a school for art and design, on track to receive an B.F.A in Photography.

People Listen...I graduated in 2007 at the age of 17! I am 24 and still trucking…yeah Sometimes I have mini meltdowns especially when I see friends doing things that 24 year olds do- like renting apartments and..Gasp looking at houses to buy- something far off for me while I focus on education, building my brand, and my identity as an artist. 

I may not be where I pictured myself to be (hehe- pun intended)  

But honestly I believe I am where I am supposed to be…Photography is what makes me tic, and I'd rather tic my way to these strange things called dreams than sit around "safe" in a life that Im not content with.

So I guess this is just a long way of me saying WELCOME to my world this is just the beginning!