MY PURSUIT TO CAREER HAPPINESSBy Crystal Lanier

FOR A LONG TIME, I WANTED A CAREER IN GAME DESIGN.

I dedicated a lot of my free time to game it was my thing to do.

MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD THIS STRONG INTEREST.

Enrolled at Full Sail University and was well on my way.

I LOVED THAT I WAS LEARNING ABOUT MY PASSION; GAMING.

I began the finite math class in February of this year. This class was similar to being in a foreign country.

FEELING BEAT DOWN, AND A LITTLE DEFEATED, I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO MY STUDENT LIAISON.

SHE EXPLAINED THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE FIRST YEAR AND SOMETIMES STUDENTS FIND THAT THEY CAN STILL PURSUE A DEGREE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO KEEP SOME GOALS AND FIND NEW ONES AS WELL.

AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, I DECIDED TO GO WITH MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS.

WHEN I BEGAN MY FIRST CLASS IN MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS OVA, TO BE SPECIFIC, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING THERE.

I began the next class in line Introduction to Media Communications and Technologies. I did nothing the first week I just wanted to give up. What of my childhood friends was shot and killed that week. She was a mother of three and was at a party when it happened.

I CALLED MY STUDENT ADVISOR AND ATTEMPTED TO DROP THE CLASS. SHE INFORMED ME THAT I WAS ON THE VERGE OF BEING PUT ON ACADEMIC PROBATION.

THOSE TWO WORDS “ACADEMIC PROBATION” SCARED ME. I WENT TO WORK I STARTED DOING MY ASSIGNMENTS AND ACTUALLY LEARNING SOMETHING.

By the time the third week rolled around, I was stoked to be in this program. I had some missed assignments that I could not make up for, but I still passed the class.

I found a new passion, media communications. I am enjoying learning and finding my place in this industry. As I continue in my career studies I will always keep in mind, to approach every situation with a positive attitude and an open mind.