35 days of Change

As I write this, (I actually counted the number of days on the calendar since I have returned from Peru) I am amazed that only 35 days have passed since my return. It is amazing the turn of events that have taken place in terms of career choices. The trip was amazing in more than just an adventure of a lifetime.

Previous to my journey, I have been working towards a career in books. It wasn’t the most fine-tuned focus, but I knew I wanted a career in books. It lead me to the acquirement of my degree in graphic design. I worked as an intern in a design studio and enjoyed what I did. I moved back to Sacramento and began freelancing my design skills. While I enjoyed it, I found myself distracted by other career opportunities. It was the first time I questioned if I really loved what I did.

My time spent at SDSU was memorable, but the most exciting class I took was Art of the Book in fall of 2007. I enjoyed it so much I signed up for another semester, forgoing more traditional graphic design classes. It was my absolute favorite class and I fell in love with the art of book binding. At the time, I didn’t understand what a revelation this was and didn’t pursue this desire again until spring of 2010.

Aching to learn and develop more of my book binding skills from college, I stumbled upon the Sacramento Book Arts group in March of this year. They are great group of women who get together just for the sake of learning new book binding techniques. Every month a member teaches a new skills. No membership fees. Just people who have a common passion.

This sparked the passion I had developed for book binding again and I started to realize I needed to get back in my pursuit of working with books. I took on the internship at Sierra Printing to get a feel for the printing process. I found the most exciting aspects of printing to be all the employees who got to work with their hands out on the presses. It was a great experience, but it also left me confused with where I wanted to go with a book career. Sitting at the computer left me restless and antsy to be using my hands in a more creative way.

These frustrations, along with the uncertainty of continuing on in my current profession in management, came with me to Peru. As I walked and learned about the fascinating culture of Peruvians I became more at peace with being in an environment where people around me wanted to learn an experience new things. I had a great group of some of the most intelligent people I have ever meet. Among them was Dr. Sabine Hyland, associate Professor of Anthropology at St. Norbert College, who is one of the most passionate women I have ever meet. They way her eyes lit up when she talked about ancient Inca civilization was astounding. Her lectures will not soon be forgotten.

She also took the time to talk with me about career choices. I briefly expressed and interest in books and she calmly mentioned working in art conservation. All of a sudden things just seemed to click. I was itching to get back to a computer and do full on research into a career in the conservation and preservation of books and works on paper. My entire thoughts were consumed with acquiring knowledge about my path as a conservator. The last 4 days in the Amazon were filled with an anxious feeling that I was on to something great.

I landed back in the Staes and immediately upon arriving home, I went straight to the computer with my heart pounding over the mass amount of information I was taking in. Two days later, I was in the counselors office at the local community college mapping out my education plan to acquire the chemistry requirements for the graduate school applications. I instantly saw my future with a clear path. I signed on to become a volunteer at the San Francisco Center of the Book, of which my first day was yesterday (it was awesome!). I have an orientation with the Crocker Art Museum to begin devoting my time to local organizations as well. I volunteered with the local Art Service Group to help out with their Art and Antique show and met many wonderful passionate people about the arts. I have reached out to local conservators for advice and information about a solid education. I am stepping down from my management position all in the face of fear, but for the first time I am truly excited about what I’m doing. Distractions of other career paths have floated away in my mind and made way to this entirely new view of what my pursuit in life is.

While the NYU master’s program is my big dream school, I am also trying to find what school is the best fit for me and puts me on the right path. I want to specialize in books and works on paper. I want to have a studio someday where I can teach other passionate students these time honored skills. I want to be able to lecture to the community about my findings and be able to help people preserve their memorable artifacts.

The anxiety is screaming high in me, but it tells me that I’m on the right path. Times are exciting and I am glad to have found a focus for the passion I was unsure of what to do with. Peru was an adventure of a lifetime indeed.