Art jobs that didn't happen

 I had signed up for what was supposed to be a summer internship with Will Vinton studios, through college, and I remember going to the meeting where there were several other student workers, and then I never got to go back. I thought it was a done deal that I was already an intern, but something was "lost in translation" and they only accepted a few of the group that showed up. All I recall is that I was excited and I was counting on it for the experience, and then it fell through; actually I am remembering that while I had signed up for it, the studio didn't have me signed up for it. Basically, I wasn't "on the list," and they said they would call me if they needed more people, but they didn't. I can't help but think now that there was something I could have done, but I had zero awareness of it at the time (or now, really). 

Decades later, (I know, decades, oh my god), I was job hunting and saw an internship for Laika entertainment, who make the cool stop motion animation movies, like Coraline. I sent a letter of interest, or whatever was required, I can't remember,  but I didn't have a reel, which was important, and just shared some sculpture photos and artwork pictures. I remember being really excited about the possibility, but nothing came of it

When I worked at Rite Aid, I eventually became the "photo person" which made the job bearable. I've been interested in photography since I was a kid, and taken multiple classes, and worked a student job as a studio photographer and flat copy photographer in college. However, to actually work as a photographer, or even an assistant? You have to make your own work as a freelancer, which is hard. I would have been glad to work in a commercial studio, but I had no clue how to get into that. It seemed impossible to find an existing job that involved photography or printing and developing of any kind, and that is why, out of necessity, I ended up as the manager of a Subway restaurant.

It's true that if you study fine art and expect to work as an artist, you have to learn a lot more than just how to draw or paint. When I was in college, computer art and digital art were not big things at all. They were much more of a niche category of study, but now if I could go back, I would put a lot more effort into digging into any opportunities to do that sort of classwork a lot more. It would have helped if I had a computer at the time too, but I was really happy taking photos and developing them myself (this was pre-digital cameras!). 

I would love to go back and tell seventh grade me what to do to prepare for her future!