In less than 5 years from now, I hope to be here:

It's hard to believe that in just a year, I'll be certified to be a teacher. When I was younger, my sister and I would play school among a lot of the other games most little girls and boys play at a young age. I was always the teacher, and looking back on it now, I think that is one of the reasons I feel more confident with my future. It's sort of crazy to think that I started gaining skill in that area at such a young age, but it's paid off so far. I've taught Sunday School for the youth group at my church for 2 years, and I've had numerous opportunities to work in the community of Dahlonega, GA. It's amazing and a bit exciting that certification, after taking the GACE of course, is just months away. Although I've had other professions cross my thoughts in the past before beginning college, there was always this feeling that teaching was something I might enjoy doing. 

Combining teaching with another area that I enjoy, art, made it an even easier choice. It's been a long, hectic road studying Art Ed at NGCSU, but I know that in the end it will all pay off. I'll have wonderful memories with people I'll hopefully never forget, and I'll have the experiences from my college classes to work from in my own teaching career. I can't wait to be a teacher somewhere, wherever I'm lead to go, but for now, I've got to go to bed since my first upper level class of Art Education starts at 8 AM in the morning. I know that I've made it this far, and I'll be making it farther in the future.  What an awesome thought that happened to cross my mind tonight, don't ya think? :)

Enjoy your day tomorrow! 

WA

There's never enough.

Sitting here today has made me realize something about life. It's a common problem we all seem to run into and aren't able to fix because we get so wrapped up in life and we make the conscious choice not to deal with it. The funny thing is that we don't bother with even fixing it, or even look to other options for help when they're right in front of our faces. I know I've struggled with it in the past few years as a stressed-out college student, and I'm pretty sure you've been down the same road.

I'll give you a hint of what "it" is....
It's one of the main problems that just irks us, as well as one of the most common wishes of adults and students.
We are always checking it, and wishing it would either slow down or hurry up.
Can you figure it out yet?


Time--There never seems to be enough of it to get tasks done in, and we waste so much of it when we consume ourselves in things that aren't beneficial to us at all. What makes it even crazier, is that we're obligated to make choices that affect only the time that is in the future, not our past or present. And, if you want to go even deeper, we're the whole reason we don't have enough time. We have become a population that soaks itself in a bath of procrastination, putting things off till the last minute, and then look back at all the opportunities we had in a past in which we could have avoided that overwhelming period of stress. So, our time is not just too short. We're the ones who have control of  how much we do have, so we're the only ones who can change that.

Anyways, I'm going to use my time to go to bed, since it's a bit late, but one of my goals this semester is definitely to use my time in a more effective manner. It all starts with me...I'm the one who has control of how much time God has blessed me with. So, I'm gonna figure out what I need to do to get the most out of it. My advice: you should do the same. Good Luck!

Always,
WA

Answers to the House Story!

Sorry, I forgot completely about posting the explanations to the questions!

So, for anyone out there that wrote down their answers, here are your explanations. Hopefully, you find they make sense in your life in some way :)

1. The person that you chose to take with you is the closest person to you right now in your life. This person is one that you trust in any situation, like entering a dark forest where you're not sure about what will happen next.

If you went alone, you choose to take situations head-on and you are very independent. You don't rely on other people, and sometimes you have trouble trusting another person with your life. You'd rather do things your way, because it's the only way you see fit for the situation.

2. The size of the animal that you encounter in the forest represents the size of your problems/stress/worries in your life at the moment. Think about if you had to carry that animal on your back all day long. Could you deal with that? That's how much your problems/stress/worries weigh you down and how much those affect you.

3. The way you deal with the animal that you encounter is the way you often deal with your biggest problems. You response was the first thing that came to your mind.

If you chose "walk away from the animal," and you're denying that you walk away from your problems, think of the last few BIG problems you've had in your life. You may surprise yourself.

If you chose that you'd "fight off the animal," you most likely deal with your problems until they're settled. You don't let things build up, you're a 'right here, right now' kind of person who doesn't like to let things get in their way.

4. If the house does not have a fence, then you're a very open person, who likes to let people into their life. You're a people person.

If the house has a fence, then you're not very comfortable with letting people in at first, and you most likely are more on the shy side.

5. The strength of the material that the cups are made out of is the strength of your trust in others. For example, if you would've said Styrofoam, your trust isn't very strong at all. If you would've said porcelain, however, your trust in others is pretty solid.

6. The way that you enter house symbolizes the way you enter certain situations.

If you answered "immediately go in": Some people jump in immediately and begin contributing or taking away from the situation right then. This person is a risk-taker.

Others, who may have "checked out the place and then went in" analyze the situation first, and sort of "test the waters" to see if it's safe to enter. You're more worried about the consequences than the situation itself. This person would rather be safe than sorry.

7. The number of table settings you see at the table is equal to the number of close friends or family members you have. These are the people you trust with everything, and they feel the same way about you. You may or may not be able to name these people, and that's ok.

8. The way you approach this stranger, or the way you don't represents this:

Your confrontational skill level.

If you hide and run from them, you're most likely a person who has confrontational issues. If you wait and greet them, you are ready to confront whoever that person is, and you're not afraid to do so.

9. If it was NOT just your imagination, you're more concerned with reality and what's happening now in your life. Things just seem more real to you (like emotions, memories, people around you).

If it was just your imagination- Your reality and what's going on now isn't really important to you. What's important is what's going to happen after you wake up from this nap called "life."

Soooo..... I really hope that this helped you understand some things about yourself, life, and your interactions with problems/friends/life in general. If it didn't work out the way you thought, then maybe you should rethink your answers and retake the story quiz. If it doesn't work out that time, I guess this story just doesn't apply to your life.

Good Luck!! :)

WA

Daydreaming...again.

It's been a while since I've posted anything, due to summer vacations, work and being out of school. So, I decided I'd post about something that really interests me. I have been reading up on this topic lately, and sometimes the more I read, the more I wish I would have studied neuroscience and psychology in school...

Dreams. Even that word sounds mysterious. It makes you want to uncover what the meaning is, and for some reason it seems to have promise to it. I don't know what my fascination with dreams was caused by, or even why I enjoy studying and reading about them so much. Maybe it is the mystery that they hold, and the fact that we're still in a day and time where scientist are just now dusting off the cover of the big book of dreams. I do know that my interest began when I was younger, when my dreams were quite vivid and completely surrealistic. I've been asked several times in my life if my dreams are in color or just black and white. To be honest, I don't think I've ever had a boring black-and-white dream. I've always had dreams that seemed way too crazy for reality, and dreams that reflect who I've become. A lot happens in our dreams, and after reading up on them, I was excited to see that Yahoo had posted this in their "Buzz". Hope you enjoy :)


http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/6-dream-mysteries-solved-2514671/

Also, I got this from the yahoo link. It may help you if you're struggling with the meaning of a dream you've been having.

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Life/Common-Dreams-Decoded.html?cid=shne

And, last but not least, I had to put this in here. I know it doesn't really work that well, but I had fun with it when I was like 13 or so... when Bored.com was the most awesome site on the internet, ever.

http://www.bored.com/freakydreams/


I hope you enjoy my post :)

WA.

The House Story

I remember a story that a friend told me a few years ago, and I thought I would share it with the world. It helped me to realize some things about myself, and after thinking about it, I would have to say my response to the story is true.... If that confused you, it won't once you make it through the story.

***Be sure to write down your answers based on the FIRST thing that comes to your mind. DON'T change your answers halfway through or at the end of the story or anything.**

I am not posting the explanations of the importance of your answers at this moment, in order to prevent you from skipping to the bottom of the page.

Story:

You decide to go into the forest, but it's getting late, so you decide to take someone with you. This person can be anyone, or you can go alone.
1. Who will you take?
So you (and your friend) begin on your journey through the forest. It's getting pretty dark, and the path is getting kind of twisty. Somewhere on your way, you encounter an animal.
2. What kind of animal do you see?
The animal seems to be provoked by your presence. It starts to growl at you and it wants you to back off, and you're not sure what it's planning to do next.
3. Do you fight it off or keep walking?
After dealing with that, you continue on the path through the forest. You (and your friend) are deep in conversation, when you notice that to your left stands a house. You're confused at why this house is in the middle of the forest, especially since you've never seen it before, and you have taken this path several times before. You decide to investigate, starting from the outside of the house.
4. Does the house have a fence around it, or no?
If so, you enter through the front gate. If not, you continue down the path that leads to the house.
While walking towards the house, you glance over and notice a couple of cups lying in the yard.
5. What material are these cups made of?
You continue to walk up the front steps to the house. When you get to the door, you notice that it's slightly cracked open. 
6. Do you go in immediately, or do you check everything out to make sure it's safe to enter?
As soon as you walk through the door, you're in the main dining area. There's a fire in the fireplace, and a table that has obviously been set for a nice dinner.
7. How many place are set at the table?
You begin to look around the entire house, only to find that no one is home. You are getting ready to leave when you notice someone walking towards the house. You can't make out their face at first, since it's dark and they're sort of far away.
8. Which of these do you (and your friend) do: (a) Hide and wait so you can run away OR (b) Wait to see who the person is and greet them.
You (and your friend) return to your house, and vow to never tell anyone what you've seen. The next day, you decide to walk down the path to see what may be going on at the house. To your suprise, it's not there anymore.
9. Was this house just a figment of your imagination?

Feel free to comment your answers in below. I will post the answer explanations in a couple of days.

Later.
WA

6 Things Every Artist Needs

Since I am an aspiring artist, studying to be an art teacher, I thought it would be a good idea if I created a list that could help artists out there who may just be getting started in the art world. A few of my past teachers, professors, and mentors are the ones who opened my eyes to the lives of several artists, past and present. After studying in their classes, and studying the artworks of those phenomenal artists, I've concocted this list according to what I've learned through experience.

*Not in any certain order*

1. A Sketchbook/Journal

• It's very important that you take this with you everywhere- I prefer smaller travel size ones (5x7), but any size will work. You may see something interesting that you'd like to sketch, or find a sticker on the sidewalk that you could just stick inside. Once you start collecting sketches, stickers, and other strange or impressive objects you find, you'll notice your book will up fast. It's important to always have a spare tucked away somewhere for later. Also, make sure it has paper that will hold up to water, ink, and dry media. Mixed media paper works best.

2. Pencils, Pens, Markers, Paint etc.

• You definitely need media that you can use to draw/sketch/paint with. You will want to mix it up. It makes for an exciting sketchbook, and you can always mix different media together for a nice finished drawing.

3. Camera

• This doesn't have to be fancy. You can choose from a wide range of cameras (film or digital). Even your phone camera will work, but it should be 2.0 mpx or higher. You'll need this to capture interesting people, scenes, objects around you that you can't sit and watch for hours or if you're short on time. It helps to download them to your computer for a larger image to work from.

4. A Water-Proof Portfolio

• A portable portfolio of all of your work, or even just photos of your work can help you to stay organized. You can carry this with you or just leave it somewhere to store your work. It always comes in handy when you're traveling with your work in the rain, and when you go to an interview that requires examples of your work. It's always nice to have it just in case.

5. Ruler/Straight Edge

• This isn't an absolute necessity, but it will help you if you're trying to achieve something geometric, make a line straight in your composition, or just want to experiment with line.

6. Patience

• Your definition of "good" art may not happen on your first few tries. You have to be patient, practice consistently, and be critical of the decisions you make. Tying all of those together will help you to create a successful composition. If your best work doesn't happen on your first try, try again. 

Some sites you may like to try:
http://www.michaels.com/
http://www.dickblick.com/

Later.
WA

Just thought that this was pretty cool... and thought you might like it. If you're a fan of M.C. Escher and/or Starbucks Coffee, I'd like to know what you think of it. (Comment below) 

I decided to post an Escher original, also, since he is such a well-known artist. I'm inspired to do something like this now, and it would probably be fun, but I don't even know where to start! Ha! 

I'm pretty sure it's just Photoshop, or some similar program like Gimp. Well, maybe one day I'll get around to it.

Hope this inspires you, too! :) 

Later.

WA