During the fall semester I was in three classes. One of them being ARTGR 672B with Bernard Canniffe. During that semester the projects in that class took everyone on a rollercoaster ride that we will never forget. I would have to say that semester and that class in particular were life changing. As Bernard would say, I had a "Come to Jesus", moment. If anyone reads this blog knows Bernard, probably read that in his voice.
I wanted to post about this poster sooner, and can not divulge on why I didn't, but I can say I am so excited to do so now.
During the class there was one day in particular that emotions were running high. During that entire class we all had bad days and good days. During this one specific day, my mental state must have had enough of trying to control all my emotions and stress and decided to freak out in the form happy tears. We all discussing the purpose of the Wish Census project and I must have been particularly vocal about things that day, because Bernard turned to me (and I can still see every second of this replay in my head) and asked "Why does this matter to you so much? Why do hearing people's wishes, fears and needs, matter so much to you?"
It was right between my explanation, of how a saying or a comment from anyone can change your entire day...better or worse....and between the story of my mother and father and the saying that someone said to them that changes the way they get up in the morning. I was explaining to Bernard and the class how sick my father is, and that being that sick can have its toll on how you view waking up every morning knowing that you are just going to still be sick. Someone had commented to my mother through social media and said that they needed to start the day by asking each other "what is good about today" and from that point on when they wake up they don't think about the negative but think about the positive. That is why the responses we were receiving for our Wish Census project meant so much to me.
After that moment, Bernard then asked me what are you doing your thesis on. I explained. Then he asked why I wasn't doing something like the wish census project and working on a thesis that mattered to me.
.....pause for come to Jesus moment......
I wanted to post about this poster sooner, and can not divulge on why I didn't, but I can say I am so excited to do so now.
During the class there was one day in particular that emotions were running high. During that entire class we all had bad days and good days. During this one specific day, my mental state must have had enough of trying to control all my emotions and stress and decided to freak out in the form happy tears. We all discussing the purpose of the Wish Census project and I must have been particularly vocal about things that day, because Bernard turned to me (and I can still see every second of this replay in my head) and asked "Why does this matter to you so much? Why do hearing people's wishes, fears and needs, matter so much to you?"
It was right between my explanation, of how a saying or a comment from anyone can change your entire day...better or worse....and between the story of my mother and father and the saying that someone said to them that changes the way they get up in the morning. I was explaining to Bernard and the class how sick my father is, and that being that sick can have its toll on how you view waking up every morning knowing that you are just going to still be sick. Someone had commented to my mother through social media and said that they needed to start the day by asking each other "what is good about today" and from that point on when they wake up they don't think about the negative but think about the positive. That is why the responses we were receiving for our Wish Census project meant so much to me.
After that moment, Bernard then asked me what are you doing your thesis on. I explained. Then he asked why I wasn't doing something like the wish census project and working on a thesis that mattered to me.
.....pause for come to Jesus moment......
(Image from PHD.COMICS)
After he asked me that....I lost it. In a good way. Happy tears everywhere! Everyone was trying to give me hugs and telling me it was going to be ok. All I kept saying was "I am ok. I really am. I am just so happy. I don't know why I am crying."
That was my "Come to Jesus Moment". The moment that changed my path in graduate school and how I look at everything else I do.
After class Bernard asked if I still wanted a poster that he had designed. I wanted one with all my heart. Particularly the blue one. He told me to go take down a specific poster and bring it to him. I did and he took it away and signed it for me. I did not read it right away, assuming it just had his signature, but when I did finally look at it, I realized it had a kind compliment that kept me going the entire semester and beyond. If people only knew how much one little thing like a comment or a hand written note could mean to someone, people could start doing extraordinary things.
Above you will see the photos of the poster, me with the poster, and the poster after I framed it. It is now hanging in my office in my apartment above my computer. It is the central focus of the room now. Just like it should be.
After he asked me that....I lost it. In a good way. Happy tears everywhere! Everyone was trying to give me hugs and telling me it was going to be ok. All I kept saying was "I am ok. I really am. I am just so happy. I don't know why I am crying."
That was my "Come to Jesus Moment". The moment that changed my path in graduate school and how I look at everything else I do.
After class Bernard asked if I still wanted a poster that he had designed. I wanted one with all my heart. Particularly the blue one. He told me to go take down a specific poster and bring it to him. I did and he took it away and signed it for me. I did not read it right away, assuming it just had his signature, but when I did finally look at it, I realized it had a kind compliment that kept me going the entire semester and beyond. If people only knew how much one little thing like a comment or a hand written note could mean to someone, people could start doing extraordinary things.
Above you will see the photos of the poster, me with the poster, and the poster after I framed it. It is now hanging in my office in my apartment above my computer. It is the central focus of the room now. Just like it should be.
RSS Feed