Wait a minute... Where's Mt. Pleasant???

It's bad enough trying to explain to my friends in California where I'm attending school... but try explaining to people native to Michigan that I came here from California. I've met people who think that life back home for me is just like the shows OC and Laguna Beach. If I'm not immediately harassed as to WHY DID YOU COME TO MICHIGAN!!! I'll get normal questions like "So do you surf?".

That aside, I've really come to enjoy CMU. I actually live a hell of a busy lifestyle here at school too. I've completed two semesters and on summer term. There are only 5 courses and one semesters that stand between me and graduating - after this one of course.

I'm a Senior Photographer for our University newspaper Central Michigan Life. This takes up pretty much all of my free time, but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love shooting, and I love staying busy.

The only thing I regret is that I meet so many people on a weekly basis that I have trouble remembering names when I see them again around campus. I do fine with faces, but feel terrible when someone says "Hi John!" and I have to respond with "Wait, where'd we meet?". It sucks, but at least people understand I have to deal with so many names.

I just finished off Fall semester with three part time jobs, a full load of classes, made Dean's List (straight As, biotch), and still managed to have a social life and chill with friends. So people who say that work and school can't be done are completely wrong.

I've won a few awards. Most are monthly clip contests for the Michigan Press Photographers Association College Clip Contest... try saying that five times fast.
I don't enter nearly as much as I should, but for the few things I have entered, I've taken a first place and I think a second and third in various categories.

However, the biggest award to date... is a third place. BUT, I took third place in the MPPA Picture of Year contest under the Photo Illustration category. I was actually very pleased to have earned this award. I'm also being honored by CMU at our annual Journalism Awards Banquet.

While I hate that I have very little of my work online so far, I fully intend to start posting it within the next four weeks... so... beginning of May you should start to see some live links in the right hand column.