Education

How I developed a passion for photography & video

When I was a young child, you would frequently catch me with a camera in my hand. Phone cameras weren't a thing yet, so I was constantly taking the "home video" camera from my dad so that I could be the one to film, or asking my parents for a new disposable camera to take pictures. In my early teen years, I started making amateur films with my sisters. We would spend tons of time coming up with a story and script, filming the video, and then I would edit it using the extremely basic editing program on my parent's computer. I would pay a large amount of money to be able to see those videos today.

I knew a few older girls who were in the Entertainment Technology program at AAST. I even assisted them with their video projects sometimes, and I admired them greatly. For years I yearned to join the program myself until I reached my junior year of high school and was finally able to enroll at the school. It was everything I had hoped it would be. I genuinely felt as if I had found where I belonged and what I really enjoyed doing. Although I struggled with time management and procrastination at times, "ET" was always my favorite class. My teacher, Mr. Johnson, played a huge role in the development of my passion in the two years I attended AAST. He was always invested in my projects, giving constructive criticism while at the same time encouraging my strengths in the field and constantly informing me that my work was exceptional. He pushed me to work harder and to improve my skills, and his influence gave me the confidence to realize that when I put my mind to it, I could create some amazing things.

Another person who has greatly inspired me and ignited my passions is my professor from the Digital Arts program at HGTC, Melissa Pirozzi. She was so much fun and her classes never ceased to produce laughter from all of her students. She found creative ways to make every lesson interesting and incorporate something to do with Star Wars or Harry Potter. At the same time, she didn't allow slacking off, and wanted to see all of her students produce their best work and live up to their potential, and she had no problem calling me out if she knew I could do better and I wasn't giving it my all. Even so, she also always noticed when something I produced was exceptional and would give the most personal and genuine compliments about my work that showed how much she truly cared and appreciated each student. Unfortunately she passed in 2021 due to a difficult battle with cancer, and my class was the last she ever taught. I am grateful beyond words that I was able to be a student of hers, and I will always remember her fondly.