#1. Forever a Student
Enjoying Seoul’s view after a long yet fulfilling day of interviews & traveling
"Thoughts pass by and realizations evoke us constantly. But only an active choice to sit, reflect, and apply the passing moment provides the opportunity for growth. When we lose focus from daily distractions, the to-be revelation will return over and over again - until we give it the time and attention it needs to soak and absorb into our being...
To solidify a thought, I must act on it. As an artist, my action for the passing realizations manifests through creative expression."
These words I wrote back in 2015 turned out to be a prophetic echo for the 2017 version of me.
I graduated college with a degree in Design | Media Arts, and minors in English and Art Education. But my degree marked not an exit from my educational journey, but the beginning of exercising my uniquely trained mind in the outside world. I never considered education as a pathway to a career, but as a primal way of building my identity and improving my lifestyle.
I’ve always loved learning. I’m constantly processing information and thoughts. When I repeat this long enough, individual thoughts eventually become values I live by and beliefs I grow passionate about. The continuum of this process is essential for my sanity and survival as a creative being. I’ve been wrestling and writing about this since forever ago (with "Dainty and Lovely" art-writing project being one of many.)
Scored these sweet timely quote bookmarks about education and passion at Thanks Books
I’m a dreamer. I’ve seen a handful of dreams come true so far (like this lovely platform), but have so much more that’s yet to be fulfilled. I dream about going back to school one day, perhaps for fashion. I dream of being an influential voice for people and causes I deeply care about.
I’m a visualist, document everything on my mind (if not through my hands) and love telling stories. I’m enamored by mundane details of life, and love breathing fresh perspective into the ordinary. My mind is always exploding with ideas, finds joy in making connections and communicating them to others.
I strive to live a life of a creator over a consumer. Consumer imitate what consumers model. Life as a creator requires discipline, intentionality, and sacrifice. A cherished friend once told me: “Your creativity comes from a place of navigating adversity in your life.” That's the discomfort of an artist that I've gotten comfortable with. To take an idea, and labor with it to the point of internal death, until the process expresses itself into something tangible that can be share by others. It’s painful and vulnerable, but worth it every time. I’m committed to navigating this agony-meets-delight journey for the rest of my life – and perhaps, even into eternity. Here's a flashback of a tweet I wrote after a rush of inspiration in the middle of the night. Written 3 years ago, but the story continues:
“Creativity is giving yourself permission to suffer until something gives out through expression.”
I’m currently two feet deep in the exploration of the delights and sorrows of my mid-twenties. I realize I’ve come to a place of established conviction and passion in my life. Beliefs that's been tested and proven true through experiences. I’m open-minded yet unshakable.
I've decided to keep a more consistent outlet of my words and images in the context of daily living. My point of departure? A time where winter chills exit out (finally!) as spring peeps in ever so cautiously yet delightfully. Gears? One foot in my life as an #Editor cranking out ideas and creating constantly, and another in my inner #Artist always demanding for more doses of creativity. Location? None other than the vibrant yet unpredictable capital of South Korea. My beloved city, Seoul.
This may be one of those projects that start out with fireworks and end up in ashes. But the engine is hot and ready for blast off - and we’ll see where this creative process goes.
Wish me luck,
D
My daily view on the way back home from work