Graduation
I felt like a completely different person going from my hometown to college. Not realizing I needed it, but I could breathe for the first time. I was kempt up doing things I never wanted. I didn’t go out. I didn’t make many friends (I loved the ones I had). I didn’t have any ambitions, or ones that I took initiative to. I didn’t let myself have a personality; I wasn’t myself.
First semester, nothing changed in me. Went to classes on time, sat in the front, did my homework, asked tough questions. An amateur teacher’s pet. I got a job in my off time. Felt that was the best I could be. But I was achieving something I couldn’t see. I had no goals. I wasn’t happy.
I made some guiding rules: Let my ambitions orient me, my passions drive me, and my legs walk me.
It took a couple years of exploration to find what I was curious about, what I was good at, and what I was passionate about. I took all our cinematography courses, which led to color grading, which led to color science courses. In between I became a filmmaker myself, critiqued hundreds of films, and watched many more. Some people say film school ruined watching movies for them, but for me it enhanced them.
Friends made college easier too. It was one friend and then a group. We watched movies. Talked until we were tired. Only friends could buy ice cream at 10pm and eat by the radiators. Only friends could make a hundred films and come out the other side wanting to make more.
I graduated on the 12th, but the emotions won’t hit me until I know it’s already too late. I will never use these facilities again. I may never see some of these friends again, classmates, co-workers, and professors. And I loved every one of them.
Photo by Jonathan Leung
Thank you to everyone at RIT who made it worth my while, who shaped me who I am today. I am forever grateful.
As for now, I’m planning on interning in Buffalo for the Summer in post-production and am looking to start working full-time in LA in August. In the meantime, I’m keeping up with coloring and post-production workflow.