My semester abroad is officially OVER!!!
I can’t believe it! It seems like it’s been so long and so short all at the same time.
These past few days, I’ve been preparing and practicing for my final presentation (and sacrificing sleep). Its paid off, big time.
The day before my presentation, I furiously printed the last of the posters for my portfolio (this poster was a small, 1 color poster done in the style of wild west postings and medicine show adverts. It was advertising “M. SWEET’S MIRACLE HAPPINESS ELIXIR” and looked really cool. Kevin gave artistic input/suggestions). Once some were dry, I started to hang them up for the benefit of the two professors that would be giving me my term grade. I walked around the building, hanging some up in high-traffic areas. 3 minutes later, I would return to see that some were already gone. Intrigued as to who would take them down, I asked some students who the culprits were. They said that other students had taken them down. At first I was upset, then I realized that stolen posters was the best compliment of my work.
I asked another professor about it, and he said:
posters advertising events at Central Saint Martins are rarely designed well. The goal is to design a poster that is so beautiful, that students will take them to keep before the advertised event even takes place. It is the ultimate compliment
With that in mind, I was stoked. Things were looking good! I spent most of my day at school, staying until 8 PM cutting my larger posters to a uniform size. Then I went home to continue to work on my presentation notes.
I woke up early this morning to practice and finish my notes. For the final presentation, they recommend that students arrive early to avoid being late. Tardiness, even by 5 minutes, results in a capping of your final grade at 40%. That means you can’t get any higher than that. They’ve VERY SERIOUS about being timely.
So after practicing and getting ready (I wore a new dress and thick tights), I left my dorm at around 2:40. My final presentation was at 3:40. No big deal, takes about 15 minutes to walk to the bus stop, and 15 minutes on the bus to get to school. Got it.
Walk to the station to see that I JUST missed the bus. It’s alright, no big deal. Another comes along and I hop on. But then, halfway to school, the bus STOPS at a station. A voice comes on, saying that the bus will be idle until it’s back on schedule… I guess it was a bit early, BUT STILL. The one day I need to get there in a hurry, go figure.
5 minutes later we’re off again, and I make it into school in time to pick up something from the printer, print out my notes, and pick up my silkscreened work to be in front of my scheduled room 10 minutes before go time. PHEW.
After a student finishes their presentation, I’m asked to come inside, set up my work, and get ready. I make small talk with the two professors doing my review, and proceed to do a series of hops and jumps to help get all of my energy and nervousness out. Both professors start laughing and say “you’re so american!” How is hopping around strictly American? Nevertheless, they claimed to have meant it in an affectionate way, and I started my presentation. Pretty much flawless!
At the end, they took turns asking me questions “Why is all of your work so personal? Would you be able to adapt these to commercial work? What was your theory behind this?” etc. I answered all of the questions with enthusiasm and excitement, and they could tell that I cared deeply for each of my projects. I am very proud of them, and they could see it. They then shooed me outside to investigate my work and privately assign me a final grade.
10 minutes later, they call me back inside. What happened next blew me away:
Do you have any extras of these two posters? We would both like to buy a copy of these two, not only to hang in our homes, but to save within the CSM archives
Um… wait WHAT?!?!?! Really? Uh, yeah of course I have extras! HOW EXCITING AIEEEEEE! The two posters requested was 1) To the Future, which I made for Kevin as a V-day gift, and 2) the Miracle Happiness Elixir poster. The first has already been inducted into the CSM archives, but they wanted to add the second as well. Just to clarify, I’ve been at CSM for less than 3 months, and I have been asked to submit 2 posters to be cataloged along with work that currently hangs in the Tate and museums all over the world. Some people are never asked to submit work, and I’ve been asked TWICE! AND they want to buy a copy for themselves. Wow. I suppose my presentation went well : )
Upon returning back to my dorm, I asked one of my British room mates about the UK grading scale. There’s 3 levels: passing, merit, and distinction, with passing being the most common and distinction extremely rare. It’s considered a tremendous honor to receive a grade with distinction… I may just be riding a wave of shocked bliss, but I’ve got a feeling that some sort of extra awesomeness is heading my way. Nevertheless, no matter what I get, I’m still stoked over the fact that I had this oportunity to study abroad in such an amazing institution. Now I’m waiting until saturday, when I pick up KEVIN!!!
