Why is there a magic feeling in the ability to fly?  Do kids dream of flying to escape their parents’ hold, to get out and see the world, to be free?  Or do they want to fly because it has never been done before?  There is a certain power about succeeding in something that no other human has accomplished.  We are taught it is a special feeling reserved only for royalty – the power to feel on top of the world.  There is always another obstacle put in front of us so that we have an excuse to pass up the attempt at becoming something great.

I have amazed myself at what I can accomplish over time.  When beginning a new project my ideas seem very far-stretched.  I have a pile of pictures, a few motivational quotes, and a couple random video clips in a folder on my desktop.  After a few weeks it can transform into a beautiful film.  I have taken many art classes where the drawings seem endless, but after a semester of hard work I have an inspired portfolio with depth beyond what I could have imagined.  I often think that if only I had a professor to constantly throw prompts in my way, I would have a much clearer picture of what lies inside.  Prompts are merely obstacles – a chance to push yourself a little farther and harder than you might have on your own.

School has always been a phenomenon to me.  Why is it that after a few years of taking courses you automatically qualify for a higher level of job opportunities?  In the creative world I believe it relates directly to these prompts flung in front of us.  While training for a career, creative inspirations are critical to kick-starting the right side of the brain.  There are those who completely disagree – who go into solitude when writing a novel, or who do not listen to any other music for months while composing a piece.  But that is what makes inspiration so enchanting: what works best in inspiring one person can be completely different for another, just as learning techniques vary among students.

I would love to stay in art school forever.  I like to think of it as an Olympic training camp.  The best nutrition (education) is available, you have the chance to train in world-class facilities (studios), and you spend the majority of your time sculpting your body (art work), all to shine at the top level.  What I need to find now is the gumption to jump off the roof and test my wings.

This video reminds me so much of myself.  Yes, her name is also Annie, but that 5th grader has always been inside of me knowing that one day my creativity would have to explode on a larger level.  I knew Day One at my first job that I would never survive without a creative outlet.  I finally found what makes me feel alive.  That fifth grader is still in progress – learning the ropes in the filming industry, but getting closer every single day to flying.  I dare you to find your inner 5th grader and strap on your wings.