Friendship, Motivation, and Support

When I was growing up, I always felt like I had a really hard time fitting in with groups of friends.  When I moved to a new school when I was in the 2nd grade, I felt like I was the new kid and never really meshed with a group.  In middle school I had finally found a group of friends who accepted me for my geeky ways and demeanor (I was incredibly shy and probably a complete dork).  But I lost them a year later when I didn't have classes with them when we went to 8th grade.

In high school I was a total band geek (played clarinet from 5th grade to 12th grade) but I made some really great friends and even reconnected with my middle school group.  :D  I started up kendo because I wanted to get into a martial art (without being tossed over someone's shoulder) and it completely changed me.  I became a little more outgoing and I became more confident about myself.  I had an amazing set of kendo friends and we all really bonded over the years.  The first two years of high school were still tough for me because I didn't try and branch out much from my set group of friends.  My junior year is when everything changed.  I got out of the AP classes, met amazing people and I was able to take the photography class.

When I started going to Delta, majority of my friends from high school all left to go straight to UCs or CSUs.  I wanted to continue trying out for national team for kendo and I also felt a little nervous about going to a CSU straight away.  I wanted to be a Japanese language major and was set on going to SFSU as soon as I finished Delta.  In January of 2009 I made friends with my Japanese club friends and reconnected with an old high school friend.  Life became crazy my 4th semester in the spring, and I really became close to my new Delta friends.  During those times that I thought I would go crazy, they were all there for me when my other friends were off at their respective schools.  My final semester at Delta was tough, but it was then that I finally decided that I needed to change.  I wasn't happy learning Japanese like I always thought I would be and didn't know what the future held for me.  My parents suggested looking into photography schools or culinary schools in case those routes held more interest for me.  In October 2009, I decided that I wanted to go to Brooks.

In January I started Brooks in PHT111.  I made friends and lived with roommates.  It was my first real college experience.  I was doing something that I absolutely loved with the support of my family and friends.  Now, it has been a year since I've been here in Santa Barbara doing what I love.  I've still kept all of my friends and try to see all of them every time I come home.  We're all in different stages of our lives, but it's great to be with all of them throughout the years.  This project is dedicated to the people in my life who have always been there for me and motivated me in pursuing my dream.  Without my friends, I wouldn't be the same person I am today.  I am forever grateful to these people for changing my life for the better and always supporting me along the way.

I put these photographs in order of when I became close friends with them.  I wanted to do a typical head shot and then one that would show a bit more of their personality.  I am super lucky to have such a wonderful connection with each of them.  :D  (I am missing my friends Omar and Andrea.  I hope to get their pictures soon.  The original images are pretty big, so as usual, click on the image to see a bigger size.)

Katie Ann

Elisa

Lance

Andrew

Justin

Jarrett

Nikole

Kimmy

Morgan

Eddie

Keo

Jenna

Mark

Jessica