This semester took off a bit slow thanks to a Holiday and two weather days that caused JSU to be closed Monday-Wednesday of week 2. Classes have now been in session for six weeks and I’m finally finding my rhythm, unlike last semester. Last semester was an adrenaline-powered nightmare. I earned As in all my classes so I’m sure some would think it wasn’t that bad, but it was. I hope to never overload myself like that again.

I’m in three classes this semester, but only one of them is a studio class (last semester all three were studios). This semester I’m taking Graphic Design History with Dr. Mary Springer, Traditional Communication Studio with Christian Dunn, and Grantwriting with Dr. Paul Hathaway.

My Classes

Graphic Design History is going well. Lots of reading, research, and writing. I will also have the opportunity to teach two lessons. I’m really excited, and a little anxious, about getting some more teaching experience. I’m also really interested in my research paper, or at least my current proposed topic: The Influences of Zen in Japanese Design. I’m specifically looking at Koichi Sato but may have to adjust my scope due to the difficulty of finding scholarly resources on a fairly contemporary and foreign artist.

Traditional Communication Studio is going really well. I’ve already knocked out two poster designs, one for an Arbor Day event, and another for an annual student art show. I used the posters as opportunities to try some new techniques. One traditional and one modern. I experimented with lithography (printmaking) one and tried a new digital technique for the other. Now we are working on our major project of the semester, a game design.

Grantwriting is the class I’m feeling a bit behind in. In this class, I am writing an actual grant which requires me to meet and communicate with my grantee organization. If all goes well I’ll be writing a grant for a set of interactive educational workshops for AnniCon 2019.

Work

I’m working at Faculty Commons again this semester. I do web updates, information structuring, create forms, and am planning two faculty workshops for later in the semester. I’m a bit intimidated to be teaching faculty but I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I’m also enjoying the opportunity of attending various Faculty Workshops. Today I attended a workshop on the Ethics of Helping People that was quite interesting and enlightening. One of the points discussed regarded negative student behavior and how we can adjust our environments and reactions in order to influence more positive behavior. Good stuff.