Stout Vs. WSD

I'd like to take a moment to show my appreciation for the way class is taught here, especially in GD 3 and 3D Modeling.  But before I can do that, let me tell you about a typical first day of school at Stout.  You walk into class, all ready to take on a new semester with a fresh and open mind.  And the first thing the professor lectures about is how you should just give up.  "If you aren't passionate, if you aren't serious, if you aren't loving every assignment you get, if your portfolio stinks this far into the program, then you should strongly consider dropping this class and changing your major," he or she will say as your self esteem rapidly shrinks, "If you have any doubts at all about what you're doing then you will never make it in this field."  Oh!  But wait!  It's not just the first day that you hear this, it's at every project brief and every critique, and coming from each of your art & design professors.

Maaaaybe a slight over-exaggeration...but inspiring, no?

But it is different here.  I haven't gotten the, "you should quit" speech yet.  But instead it's been more like, "you can do anything you want if you just put your mind to it."  First day of 3D Modeling, Vik is giving us the course brief.  He's showing us all of these student examples and real world examples of modeling which looks all very intimidating, but he says, "Any of you can do these things, even if this is your first time using Maya.  You can make whatever you want.  Challenge yourself.  All you have to do is put time into it."  And I especially LOVE it when teachers say, "Ask me lots of questions!"  There is nothing worse than a teacher who gets mad at me for asking them a question.

And then I just have to say that I like how GD 3 is taught by two instructors.  If only this could be the norm for every class.  Because this way if I have a question, usually one of them is available.  And I can get two different professional opinions.  AND sometimes it seems like teachers grade based on their own preferences, but this way it seems there would be a slightly less biased view.

And finally, I am shy.  But here everyone is very friendly and outgoing.  I don't feel weird asking any of my peers for an opinion on something.  At Stout I feel like I try my best not to talk to anyone.  But for me, collaborating with other students comes much easier here...I think it is pushed more by the teachers...but also it is smaller than Stout so everyone knows everyone.

And that is all I'd like to say about that.