I am knitting a Gryffindor scarf.

This shouldn't be happening for a few reasons. First and foremost, I haven't read all of the books, although the idea is that I'm going to finish them before the scarf is done.

Second, and what should probably be foremost, I don't have all that much time. I am a senior. As such, I need to apply to many colleges over the next couple of months, and then pick the right one in the spring. Meanwhile, I have 75 hours of community service I need to take care of, two virtual school classes, and three APs. This really isn't all that bad, but I am a bit of a procrastinator, which I'm hoping will change soon.

And any spare time I do have, I should really be giving to my two sketchbooks, one for AP art and the other just as a side project. I think what I really want to do is just fill up sketchbooks with ink and paint and collage for a living. They are coming along quite nicely and I'm having a field day with them.

But I'm not complaining, really, because so far my senior year is actually turning out pretty okay. I have a parking permit, a creative writing class, and a senior crown to paint, so it's all good.

But anyway, I am knitting a Gryffindor scarf and it will be glorious. Unless I'm actually a Hufflepuff and OH GOD I'M SUCH A GEEK.

I'm home, tired and inspired, and I have a lot of work to do. Schoolwork, yes, but mostly other things.

I think that I really have to go to art school. This poses a lot of questions because, I'm having some trouble deciding what to do with my life. On one hand, I'm pretty sure I want to become an animator. This is where I find myself leaning towards, and this is what I think will make me happy in the long run. And then there's the option of fine arts, which will probably also make me happy. Fine arts would include just about anything, including sculpture, printmaking, painting, etc. I could major in fine arts and do everything my heart desires, except animation.

There's also the question of where. My dream school, like many others, is Calarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I will apply to the character animation program this december. This means that over the next four months, I'll be doing nothing but drawing. I need to fill a sketchbook or two with drawings from life, and build up a portfolio. Most people don't get in right after highschool, but I'm sure as hell going to try.

Ringling is an amazing school. I'm sure that I would have an incredible experience if I went there for fine arts. The only downside is that the only animation program they have is computer animation. They have the number one computer animation program in the country. The student films are incredible. The principles of animation still apply, but I want to study and eventually practice traditional.

And I think, at this point anyway, that I actually am ready for college. Coming from the Precollege program, most of us agree that going back to highschool is going to suck.

And I'm actually not very good at this. But I will be! I'm really excited about the future!

And another thing: I passed the AP physics exam! I got a 3, which is barely passing, but passing nonetheless! This makes me happy because I put a lot of effort and hard work into that class, and even if I never need to use the credit, I'm still glad I took it. It made me stronger, and it's fun to know things that a lot of other people don't.

From my two weeks here at Ringling, here's a list of what I've picked up:

1.) I'm not as good of an artist as I think.

2.) I'm not nearly as bad of an artist as I think, either.

3.) Superglue is a good thing to have on hand.

4.) Wire sculpting. I don't care if it never comes in handy, because it's really fun.

5.) John Lasseter was once fired from Disney. Fun times!

6.) There is a lot more to learn than I have time, and this may present a problem in the future, but for now I'll just let that thought go.

7.) There is so much good music and art. Sometimes I think humanity has more to offer than I give it credit for. This is really saying something, because I'm fairly optomistic.

8.) I don't care if they're ugly; comfortable shoes are gifts from God.

9.) Computer Animation is hard, but manageable at a primitive level.

10.) No matter where you go, people are still people, and some of them just suck.

11.) I am not ready for college. Convieniently, I still have another year of high school to get through.

My dorm room is freezing, but that's okay, because I bought an ugly, five-dollar sweater from Goodwill yesterday, and it's now my prized possession. My roommate is amazing and has great tastes in music. Going to art school seems like the best thing to do, the thing that would really test me and stretch me and make me a better stronger, artist.

But then again, you don't have to go to art school to be a great artist, and I'd probably be a lot more comfortable somewhere with more to offer than only art.

As homework assignments, I created a new mascot for Frosted Flakes and a new direction for the video game, "Tetris." It's a lot of fun. I feel really geeky saying this, but I'm excited to draw things I've never drawn before.

I feel a strange, faint homesickness, but only sometimes. Eh, it's just a part of everything. I'm happy to be here.

It's...amazing. It's really something.

I'm exhausted. I have two assignments. And I'm happy to do them. Concept art is fun. My teacher had a "The Art of Lilo and Stitch" book as a reference book in Visual Development class, and immediately I was in love with the class.

My roomate is a sweet person and everyone in my dorm is amazing and we all hang out and we just had a pajama/artshowing party in the commonroom. And we have a commonroom! And a bathroom in each dormroom! And the food is really really good.

I feel really inadequate for the first time, but not in a bad way. There is so much to learn, and I'm so excited about it.

There are downsides, like Florida weather, and a lack of freetime. But everyone is nice and helpful and I'm glad to be here.

Now I'm going to research snowfoxes and snowboarders for my Visual Development assignment. I'll write a more articulate entry when I'm not so tired.

These guys get excited about traditional animation! They know about The Princess and the Frog! I like people.

And it's college! We sip Starbucks from the cafe downstairs and go to class and buy food and do our laundry! I like it a lot.

Okay I'm going to go get in some research before I pass out.

Tomorrow I leave for Ringling College of Art and Design. There I'll spend a month as a college student. I'll live in a dorm room with a roommate who I won't meet until sunday, I'll wash my clothes as seldom as possible, and I'll be taking art classes like nobody's buisness.

I'm excited and nervous and thrilled and terrified. This is the longest I've ever been away from home (on my own, at least).

But in reality I'll probably have a great time, and I'm really glad I could go.

I'm not sure if I want to go to an exclusively art school or a liberal arts college or whatever, and this may help me decide. Wherever I go I imagine I'll be an art major, but there are other things I'm interested in as well, like archaeology, natural history, literature, and more or less everything else. But if I really want to be all serious about cartoons, then I should probably look into art schools.

Ah, well. I may or may not have internet access, so I may or may not be on much. Have a nice month, everyone!

Oh, and I'm probably way too excited about this: [link]