My Career

So yesterday my supervisor comes in and says that there's a meeting at Fisher Price (in New York) and where as FP is my line of packaging to handle, b/c I'm past the flying point of traveling in this pregnancy, she's going to have the other designer go in my place. She's right and I can name a million reasons why this is the decision that should have been made (here's a few 1) I'm pregnant 2) My coworker is technically the manager and I'm the asst manager of graphic services and he's been here for 10 years 3) The things they plan on discussing, b/c he's been here longer he will probably have more insight into), but I'm just going to put it out there... I'm a little envious.

This career path has been a rocky one for me. My last year of college I had a professor tell me that I needed to decide if I was going to be a student or a worker ( I worked my way thru, sometimes holding 3 jobs, b/c pride wouldn't let me accept the help my parents offered), this stemmed from a missed meeting where I took an early break from my job to meet with him and was there at the scheduled time and HE was not in place, so thus we did not meet. He was a butt. I got a C- on my senior design project. I could have done tons better, but I just wanted to graduate at that point. It's a little hindsight of mine that I'm not so proud of, it kind of hindered my design soul. I'm in a subjective field and I embarked upon this journey with the thought that I was just barely squeaking by in creativity. My first job was at a newspaper creating advertising. Not rousing. Not something you really brag about on the alumni page. It was a job and I considered it my stepping stone. Next I worked at a stationery company in which I did a lot of typesetting and observed beautiful design done by the owner and his wife. When they finally opened a spot for me to test my designing wings, they decided to streamline the business which would eliminate my new position or put me back in typesetting. I instead opted to take over his old clients and began freelancing. Mostly form work, so not the most creative, but occasionally there were jobs where it was no holds bar, what I said went and besides the schedule and the money, it was this job that gave me solid footing in design and let me know that I could do it and do it well. Now, here I am at the juvenille product company here in FL. Having survived the WORST supervisor ever (and I've had some dosies), I am in a place where my design is respected, I'm challenged, and my opinion and voice are heard. There's still a lot that I'm learning, but this company is providing the leeway for me to do just that. I've aspired to be the designer who travels to meet with clients and can see my work displayed across the country, I feel like this job is taking me there. Now here's the catch. My career has NEVER been my priority. Half the reason I was so into design in the beginning is that it would allow me to work from home when I started a family.

Now I'm starting a family. And I feel like my career opportunities keep coming, but I'm having to pass up (there's a photoshoot in March that I was to go to NY and help direct, but duh, I'll be in labor so again, we pass). It kind of makes me sad and I think that in turn makes me wonder what my problem is. I've never been "that woman" who was only set on heading to the top of the design ladder (nothing wrong with that, just not me), so why do these little opportunities missed bother me so? Who knows. I have my priorities and I'm pretty set in them. God first, family second, there's no rocking that. It's the career thing that's all helter-skelter jumping around in the numbers. Deep down I know that if one door closes, or is missed, then God has a better door (maybe a French door with windows) just waiting. So although I'm a little gripey about this now, I know that whatever designer I'm suppose to be, God's got me on the path. All I have to do is walk. Oh and stop glancing around to see if my co-worker is trying to hike with the map, canteen, and bookbag I laid to the side while on a water break. I've got my own path. Yep, sounds like a mantra to me... I've got my own path.

Happy Wednesday!