"Why Umair? Why would you want to throw it all away? You just bought a house... you have job that pays exceptionally well..."
I have struggled with those questions for the last 5 months of unemployment. I have tried to figure out what the hell I am doing, and WHY?! Only a crazy person would walk away from a job where I was making well over six figures, worked with some amazing people, a job that afforded my a nice house, vacations, regular fine dining, stay debt free. The American Dream, right? (Well, the old American Dream, nowadays its about living in excess and selfishly.)
I am going back to the core of myself. Sadly, it took time to figure out and remember what that was. That was ART and MUSIC. I have had a love/hate, on/off relationship with MUSIC, specifically GUITAR. I was good, going on better on guitar. I couldn't find anyone to share or develop that talent with, past a several mediocre bands, so I was solo. You know how that turns out when you have no one to feed off of, creatively. Now, if I pick up the guitar, I play like I am 16 again, playing cheesy punk rock 4-chords. Ugh.
As for ART, I never regressed, but I never progressed either. I can go on without drawing or sketching for couple years, but when I grab a pad and paper (or Photoshop), I pick up right where I left off. It still exhilarates me. I get exited like a 5 years old kid who just drew squiggles on construction paper with Crayons and proudly showed his dad the "house" he drew.
I am going back to school for Graphic Design and an additional Certificate in 3D/2D Animation. So what is I end up with 2 Bachelors Degrees and a Certificate. But I have a extremely good feeling about this. The only way I can do this is by not having a cubicle sales job behind a desk from 8 to 5, leaving minimal time for night/online classes, stretching school for double time. Retail is the only answer. I will be working at a AT&T cellphone store Dallas, near Old Town, a festive part with delicious food. Best part is that people will actually have to come to me at the store to get something they want instead of me trying to sell something. Sweet... for a change! It's not a life career, but a perfect pairing for someone is school, and make decent $ to get by.
Who knows, 2 years from now, I wont have to work pointless cubicle jobs, killing the little spirit I have left. ha! Either freelance work, or a design firm.
It's going to be AWESOME!
