joe randel's art dump

What where you doing ten years ago?

Where you you better off then, or are you doing better now?  Have you reached any goals you’ve set for yourself?  I always find it interesting to look back at what you’ve done from time to time and see how things have happened for you.  You’ll be able to see how the decisions you’ve made lead you to the point you are at now, and how if you’d made different choices at key moments you’re life could be totally different.

Me?  Ten years ago this month I would be waiting for the summer to end so I could make it in to Algonquin College’s Classical Animation program.  I had tried for Sheridan College but I didn’t get it.  I was really bummed but looking back, if I did get in to Sheridan my life would be completely different from what it is now.  Not bad different, just different.  I wouldn’t have met the wonderful people I did at Algonquin nor would I have made the contacts that I did that lead me to working in the gaming industry.  Heck, I might not even be working in video games right now.  I might be doing tv animation.  I actually owe a good friend of mine my game career as he was the one that suggested I follow him to the studio he was at right after school.  I never would have met this friend if Sheridan didn’t turn me down and made me go to Algonquin.

I wasn’t drawing any smutty toons or anything 10 years ago.  I wasn’t even married, although I was still dating my then to be wife.  Crazy…

I firmly believe that we are all products of our environments and what situations are put before us, and I always find it amazing how one little decision can turn everything upside down and take you down a different path.  Looking back on 10 years, I can see that I’ve worked had, made goals for myself and became a way more confident person.  I’ve done things I never would have imagined in if you’d told me ten years ago.

So how about you?  Ten years later and how are you doing?