Advice on the Fly:

I picked up a good bit of cynicism from my interview with Anthony McMurray, yet he also expressed to me his fondness towards the time he spent at LSU. In truth, I think he felt very much mislead during his time there, but I can't help but feel that some of that blame was likely misplaced. Even though he did have some negative responses, I believe the positive influence of his time at LSU outweighed the negative experiences that might have occurred. I can understand how he feels however, because I feel in a small way, I felt mislead a little coming back to school as well. Mainly due to the fact that I was under the impression that the film and television concentration was far more advanced at LSU than it was, in reality it was all but non-existent at the time. This perspective has never swayed how much I've appreciated my time at LSU, but it did create a level of disappointment that I was surprised to feel given that I expected a totally different experience. However, looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. My time at LSU has been insanely influential and an incredibly positive experience. The people I've met and brought close to me personally in the time I've been here has been absolutely life changing, which alone made my time here so very invaluable. I find that now, this close to graduation, I am experiencing a tug o war of mixed feelings towards reaching the end goal. Part of me is so very ready to move on from the classroom setting, while another part of me is going to miss the structure of the environment and especially the people I've come to know and love. It's a very bittersweet feeling, a strong connection that I never thought I would experience and yet here I am feeling as if this chapter of my life is coming to a conclusion too soon. In this regard, I hope to stay around the university in order to contribute to the film and television concentration and impart upon future students what I've learned. Hopefully through the connections I've made an opportunity will come up in which I might be able to assist Josh Overbay to whatever capacity I can, in order to further establish an environment that students can create the art that they are so very passionate about. So, with that being said, I feel as if some of the best advice I could give to students coming into the program would be; Don't be too hard on yourself, try not to feel as if this moment in your life is the end all, be all chapter of which everything hinges upon. There is a world out there that will give you a chance if you approach it in the right way, college is not the last stop, it's a new beginning. Try not to get behind on deadlines and realize that you are privileged to be able to go to class because you are getting an education that will only serve to benefit you in the long run, but give you the ability to contribute your art to a much large community. Yes, have fun and party, but do so in moderation, just because you miss a party doesn't mean there won't be another next week, your priority is, make the grade, but even more so, learn something in the process, don't just go to class because you have to. There is so much more I could say, the reality is, that a teenager coming in to college is typically going to have a, know it all kind of mindset and that kind of enthusiasm can be a positive thing. However, that attitude will likely change, because it is the student who allows for the teachings to mold them into who they want to become that winds up benefitting the most from college. Those who don't allow for change, are forever destined to repeat and will likely look back and wish for a second chance.