October 2nd, 2024
I can’t believe it, but I’m already six weeks into being back at school at DCTC. People keep asking me how it’s going so let’s talk about it!
• I joined a club! I went to my first Creative Arts & Writing Club meeting today… and I walked out of the meeting as the new President of the Creative Arts & Writing Club! (No, I am not even kidding about this.) I am so looking forward to this part of school, connecting to other creatives and doing good work together.
• I’m ahead in most of my classes! I have a schedule of two in-person classes and three online; the online course instructors encourage us to get ahead, which I am taking to heart. I’m stretching muscles I haven’t used in years and gaining brand new brushes to add to my kit.
• I’m obsessed with my Environmental Science class! If you’ve ever talked to me at length you know I’m one of those insufferable Captain Planet kids; getting in-depth information about our planet is nothing short of magical. This is the kind of stuff I do with my free time anyway, but now I get credit for it!
• I’m also taking a bunch of writing classes! Maybe I’ll actually get good at it someday!
• A lot of you have asked about my degree: I’m finishing a Graphic Design program I started at (the now-shuttered) Brown College in Mendota Heights. I’ve always loved drawing and design and I feel like, while writing has always come naturally to me, visual art is more difficult for me to express. These skills are hard-won and priceless to me.
• The catalyst for me going back to school was seeing Governor Walz on TV talking about a bill they passed that (if you make less than a certain income) will cover a significant part of your education. I thought it couldn’t be real; it is real, it’s called the North Star Scholarship, it started this fall and I am lucky enough to receive it.
• Most of the time I’m working really hard and feeling really good about this, but I have moments where I am completely overwhelmed and terrified and I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I remind myself that nobody knows what they’re doing and that’s okay. I just need to take it a day at a time.
And that’s about it, I think? I appreciate all the people who have offered supportive words and high fives. You’re the best. Now let me get back to my homework! (And no: Marvel hasn’t eaten any. Yet.)
The Den 