Summer In California feels like 9 months long...

Since I last posted there has been a significant amount of stuff happening this summer. None like last summer but I opted to of course take classes and stay in Pasadena versus driving/traveling back to Nashville. To refresh, I am taking three classes at AC at Night. Visual Communications, Intermediate Transportation, and Transpor-tainment. It has been a real exercise in personal time management plus prioritization to oversee that all work for all classes gets done ASAP every week-into-weekend so that I am not overwhelming myself last-minute (which I have been prone to do often before) there was no room for errors this summer. I have actually done some 'mind management' in the way of trying to explore what I am willing to learn on a daily basis. Wether that be remaining up to date with current events or reading extensive literature on design and business in the background when my mind just can't be creative. I have been digesting a lot of music this summer too because I felt that the guidelines of summer still applied regardless if i was in class or not. I made sure to listen to music often, play on the weekends when time permitted and maybe even have a little romance mixed in. All of which are (and let me emphasize this) very difficult to do.
Nevertheless I will start with the meat of this by saying I just completed reading a book called 'Car Guys vs. Bean Counters' by Bob Lutz. For those who are unaware of who he is just google him. The book is incredible. I suddenly feel a commonality with him and I. He knows decades of the automotive business more than I but I still feel that a lot of his core values and his type-A personality traits are what I am proud to say have somehow made it to me since my grandfather passed in 2007, when I opted to change directions and go directly to work at a Honda dealer. Things I have learned from then until now have assisted in the molding of a personality that I can only claim is mine. The book, though, highlights the automotive business-particularly GM and his influence from 2001-2010. The highs and lows are what he discusses and the most striking thing that stuck with me was the quote by maximum Bob himself;
                         
                  "Dont do the right thing the first time. Do the right thing RIGHT the first time. "

I just sat there thinking PREACH IT because that is unbelievably true and I finally had the correct words to attribute to how I did my everyday business back at Honda to today. Never had I before been able to explain why I did things the way I did, when my bosses would ask where I had a good idea for processes. However now (2 years too late) I had it. But that does not mean I can't carry it with me. I hope you do too.

Now other tidbits were new friends that joined the group that I am with that comes to Art Center every day early and stays late. I love the friends I have made and nothing is greater in my life than the networking I have done and the relationships I have made, only a great new group to add to the already amazing set of friends that I have. Hopefully you're one :)

A slight event that happened about a week and a half ago was ( I believe on a Monday) when we received notice that as a collective of student body, we would not be allowed to stay after hours at school (because it is open 24 hours) due to significant messes that were being created by a myriad of factors. From the summer high programs to day program students coming down from hillside to work late, with so many people, messes were inevitable. To receive an official notice though kicking us out (night program mainly) was appalling. I expressed my discontent with this abrupt measure to my friends and to security and no one really had a solid solution or answer as what to do. So I decided to message the persons who were on the letter to get a better clarification into this matter and in all real reality I wanted it resolved as soon as possible. The problem was, the individuals whom I emailed.....were department chairs of the very major I am wanting to graduate with. Luckily enough I approached this is a very calm way and didn't blow up or bitch or whine. I just wanted to inform everyone that Art center at night students are not to blame for this incident, let alone myself or the group I work with (with whom I hound and they hound me if messes need to be cleaned in the rooms which we work). So within one day and a set of email correspondence with the powers that be I had successfully restored the after-hours permission for us. I felt very proud of myself because I opted to take charge in a situation otherwise I would have left alone until the 'until further notice' had been dropped, for all I know could have lasted longer than we all think. Long story short I acted like an adult and was treated like one and it didn't feel too bad! hahaha

I also signed my lease in my apt, to continue for the next three years! woah!

I also DID have a brief and exhaustive chance to go home to nashville and see Mom, Dad and Mamaw. I missed them the most. :'/

Ill make a conscious effort to scan my work the next few weeks to show you my progress.

The rest just needs to be played out in pictures so you'll see :)

Love ya