Update

Hey there everyone.

I have no idea why I titled this post "Update" because that would imply that something has actually happened therefore presenting a reason to inform you of said event. Well there is a little something that you might be interested to know:

I was offered an internship in San Diego but I can't financially make it work to move out to California for the summer. Unless I wanted to live in a box...which I decided after sleeping in one for a night would be a bad idea for my health. I really liked the firm and where their hearts were anchored. Even so, it has a possibility of employment for the future which is super exciting. Another firm in Philadelphia e-mailed me back and said they already had interns. I applied for another one in Washington DC but that was about 2 weeks ago.

I would like to say that to date I have contact/applied for at least 40+ internships.

I should hear from Relevant within the month so at least that's something to hope for.

Basically I'm playing the waiting game.

In the meanwhile I've just been doing school work and relaxing. I've had a lot time on my hands most of which I've been sleeping or working on some freelance projects. I know that sounds like a waste (the sleeping part that is) but I have been exhausted over the past 2 weeks. Perhaps my body just needs to catch up.

I started reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it. The only fall back is that I wish I had someone to talk to about it because it gets pretty deep into some serious issues of spiritual warfare. Bible study anyone?

I did get an e-mail about registering for graduation! I got really excited because it just makes that a reality. I'm graduating. In 291 days. And I have no idea what I'm doing. Or where I'm going. Or, well anything.

To be honest I would love to do ministry and design. Together. Everyone keeps telling me it's possible but right now I just need a door to open somewhere. Or just like...a crack in the door. Regardless of my doubts, God is faithful for sure.

Well I'm headed to lunch with Jess. As always, thanks for stopping by!

Like They Said

So I stumbled across this article about graphic design and its relationship to a Christian heart. I have to say it pretty much expresses a struggle that every designer deals with. Even though I'm still a graphic design student I can relate to what is being said here. Take a few minutes and check it out:

"I can't tell you how many designers I've spoken to over the last year who have expressed to me a deep discontent with their work. Not that it wasn't good enough or that it didn't win awards, but because they felt empty and passionless doing it. I saw this expressed in several ways:

I called a fellow graphic designer the other day, and he told me that he just didn't think he could possibly design another corporate newsletter for a client.

I walked into a well respected, up and coming ad agency and found very bright and creative designers dragging themselves through the motions with another less than inspiring project.

I myself have recently tried to establish some client accounts that I new I'd be miserable doing.

What do all these things have in common? Fear. Most of the things we do, our bosses do and our coworkers do are driven by fear. Primarily fear that we _______. You can fill in the blank…fear that won't be able to pay the bills; will get fired if we say no; won't be able to maintain our lifestyle; will close the door on other opportunities, etc.

So what do we do? We toil the ground as Adam was cursed to do after the Fall. We take on clients and projects we don't have any interest in or flat out dislike. We compromise our creative convictions for fear of losing a client. We rush ourselves to produce for fear of missing a deadline and produce unsatisfactory work. We take jobs at big agencies when we want to start our own studio. Think about how many times today you did something where fear was an underlying motive.

Fear is the Enemy's number one weapon for getting us to do what we don't want to do when our hearts are calling us to do otherwise.

There is good news though for folks like us. Jesus is broke the curse of toiling the ground (or computer) so we no longer need to design from fear. He is calling us to risk it all to create and design with passion for His Kingdom. Remember the story of Jesus and the fishermen. These professionals had been out all day working hard. They were toiling the water, so to speak. They caught nothing. They were empty. Then Jesus tells them to go into deep water and try it again. You know the rest of the story. They caught so many fish their boats almost sunk, and they even called for help. They were stunned.

Check out Jesus words to one of the fisherman, "There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women." In one act Jesus ignited their true call (still related to their profession but on a new level) and showed them that there would be more than enough to supply their needs. Their response: pulled their boats up, left all their professional equipment behind and followed Him.

I know this is what God is calling me to do. Could it be we only need to listen for the call in design work and follow Him. Can't He handle the bills? Does the world really need one more cool product to sell or snappy ad produced? What's one more logo going to identify? Is there something deeper He is calling you to design? What's the passion He's designed in your heart? Are you willing to leave it all behind?"

False Alarm

So, yeah.

I'm not going to Washington. Somethings have fallen through and apparently I'm just not going to make it.

It's been a long day friends, but for those of you who are going have fun and lobby a little for me.

In the mean while, I shall defend my parking spot from my drunken neighbors while trying to finish 5 prints, a CD cover design, and a presentation by Friday.

Graduation come quickly.

Lobby for Peace

I literally just got off the phone with some extremely exciting news that I want to share with all of you.

There is a organization that I'm a big fan of called Invisible Children. One of their recent focuses is on becoming more political with their organization to push for peace in Uganda, Africa from another AMAZING organization called Resolve Uganda. Here's an update on the situation there:

"The Ugandan military issued the strongest reiteration yet of its threat to renew military hostilities against the LRA if a peace deal is not reached by the end of month. Despite recent progress in Juba, UPDF spokesman Chris Magezi said, "The February 29 deadline is still on and I can tell you in no uncertain terms that [the] government has no plans of renewing or announcing other deadlines. After the expiry of the deadline, the government will have an array of options, including the military option."

Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, a highly respected advocate for a peaceful solution to the conflict, spoke out strongly against the ultimatum, saying, "They should not be impatient…Both parties should know that the people of northern Uganda would not want a bloodbath again after both the government and the LRA took the decision to go to peace talks. Those who propagate war should be ready to answer for the lives that would be lost and be ready to face the consequences of the resumption of war."

Since the peace talks have been very shaky in the last few weeks, the Lobby Days have come into existence. Basically, Invisible Children is rounding up all of its supporters to come to Washington DC and meet with their congressmen to put pressure on the US government to support peace in Uganda.

Well....

I'M GOING! That's right! Dean Green our Dean of Students is sponsoring me and two other girls to fly to Washington this Sunday to represent Auburn University! We'll leave Sunday and return on Wednesday and yes, our classes will be excused so have no fear!

I couldn't be more pumped! I've never "lobbied" for anything or met a congressman, or even really been in Washington. I went once when I was in the University band but I didn't see anything besides being stranded somewhere in Virgina and walking through the snow for a day. I'm so excited to actually be able to SEE D.C. and have the flight paid for is just...wow.

So, if you see me on MTV freezing my bum off for Uganda please TiVo it! (Hey it's better than sleeping in a box for a night like last time) Haha anyway, I just wanted to share and I'll let you know how everything goes.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Internship Update

Since I know all of you are eager to hear what's up for my summer plans since at least 10 people have inquired in the past week...here's an update.

I received a very random and EXTREMELY belated reply (by at least 3 months) from Jireh Ministries Foundation. Basically they are a non-profit Christian organization that focuses on Uganda and other countries in Africa. Click the link to check them out! Anyway, in the e-mail they said that they were "ready for me to join the team". The main office just moved to Montana. Their designers are in San Diego, CA and trust me there are tons of details I need to hear back from them but at least it's an open opportunity. Yes I would be in California if I took the internship. Crazy.

I called Disciple Design today and left a message with their creative director. Yes, I still have Memphis on the brain but these people have been difficult to get in touch with. Hopefully they will call me back, but for now it's in God's hands.

The Change in North Carolina has gotten back to me but stated that they wouldn't decide on interns until March. The same theme is going on with Relevant magazine. Honestly I would be amazed if I was offered anything with Relevant because their creative team is HARD CORE.

My main contact, Erika, from AIM (Adventures in Missions) is still in India. It's been awesome seeing her videos and reading the blog about her work there. Once again there are more details to iron out but I confess it's my favorite option at the moment. The people there seem AMAZING and it's just what I'm looking for. Who knows...maybe that would open doors for my goal of going on the World Race before I'm 30. Yeah, it's a new goal. Don't freak out Mom!

Anyway, that's where everything is at the moment. I'm still going to apply for the internship with Blood Water Missions because they're pretty incredible. I did hear back from a firm in Seattle and they flat out said they didn't need interns. Haaa it was almost laughable but hey, a closed door is a closed door.

Oh and just so you know that when the words are GREEN that's a link. Just click on it and it will take you to the organization's website that I'm talking about.

Alright I'm going to pack and work out before my next class. I'm going to Montgomery for the evening to hang out with the Invisible Children Roadies. I think it'll be good to get some fresh air outside of Auburn and branch out to meet new people.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Briliant.

"She passed the time quietly in a world of her own in which she was surrounded as far as the eye could see with old cabin trunks full of past memories in which she rummaged with great curiosity, and sometimes bewilderment. Or, at least, about a tenth of the cabin trunks were full of vivid, and often painful or uncomfortable memories of her past life; the other nine-tenths were full of penguins, which surprised her. Insofar as she recognised at all that she was dreaming, she realized that she must be exploring her own subconscious mind. She had heard it said that humans are supposed only to use about a tenth of their brains, and that no one was very clear what the other nine-tenths were for, but she had certainly never heard it suggested that they were used for storing penguins."

- Douglas Adams

Happy February!

February...that is a word that I could never remember how to spell correctly. Thanks spell check!

Well I would like to tell you that a million amazing things have been going on in the life and times of Megan Forrester but that wouldn't be the truth.

At the moment I have nothing exciting to report. No internship updates. The entire process has come to a lurching halt and at the moment I am too exhausted to keep pushing forward. There is one more that I plan to apply for, but I'm still waiting to see what happens with AIM.

School has been rough the past few weeks. I did have several critiques since my last post and all of them blew up or simply offered no valuable feedback. I have decided that I would enjoy web design more if I knew how to speak the HTML/CSS coding language.

I would like to add that the most pointless class I have ever taken at Auburn University is Advanced Drawing. I kid you not. I adore the professor and all of his crazy antics but as far as progressing in my art the conditions are not favorable. Oh well at least it's a credit!

I have a full weekend coming up. Saturday morning I hope to go re-stain a play ground set for a family that fosters several kids. I think it'll be good fun and I hope we get to meet all of the kiddos. Saturday night the ACSC "Seniors" are going to cook and watch LOST! That's right I haven't seen it yet so if you spoil it for me we're going to have some issues. On Sunday afternoon we're taking gifts and flowers to the seniors, widows, and shut-ins of our church. We've done it every year but this is the first time I am going to be able to go. Hooray!

I feel like there's something else...oh yes the freelance is still going. Ha! I'm doing the logo for Harding Academy's Campus Ministry in Memphis, another invitation for the Auburn CoC Youth Group and putting the finishing touches on Roger's CD. Oh yes and making a sweet self promotional video for an internship application. Wow, I just realized I'm a lot busier than I thought I was.

Well for now I'm going to go take a walk at Kiesel. Who knows, maybe I'll get up enough stamina to run again.

As always, thanks for stopping by!