My Career Goal and my rationale for choosing this goal:
One of my career goals is to start a not-for-profit organization that teaches various artistic skills to people with mental illnesses. I have already purchased a domain (www.mentalhealtharts.org) for it, but will wait until I complete my Bachelors degree before I begin it. I envision this organization to be a prominent and far reaching one, where people with mental illnesses can take classes in different kinds of art, ranging from the traditional arts like music, drawing, painting and sculpting to the more modern art forms of digital photography, animation, web design, and video editing. Once it is started, I would like to teach photography in this program.
I would like to start this organization because photography has had a very positive impact on my life, both before and after the onset of mental illness, and it has brought me closer to other people, while providing me with a way to earn income. I believe that this arts organization will help other people with mental illness socially integrate with others in a low-pressure learning environment. Aside from the benefits of integration, this not-for-profit will also provide these marginalized people a voice and an outlet into society at large as well as a set of tools with which they can make money and challenge the consumer stereotype.
In addition to teaching photography within this organization and at a university, I would also like to be a widely exhibited documentary photographer. I would like to practice photography at the same time as I teach it because the practicing of it will keep my teaching skill set fresh and new. My photography professor at CSI is a very accomplished photographer and I look up to her as a student because she has accomplished so much in the field that I would like to go into. I would one day like to inspire my students in the same way that she has inspired me. I would like to lead by example because that is the surest way to inspire people.
As things stand now, I enjoy photography both as a professional photographer and an artist. Practicing photography has made a huge difference in my life. It has given me confidence, kept me socially integrated, and provided me a way to earn income during bad economic times. I’m knowledgeable about it, and many of my photographer friends look to me for advice. My first foray into documentary photography for the photography class that I took at the College of Staten Island was a marked success. I earned an A+ on the project and as a result, an A in the class. Along with all of the required materials, I’m enclosing a CD with the project as well as my artist’s statement so you can get a better feel for what I would like to do and what I am capable of doing right now.
How my course of study will help me with this career goal:
My course of study will help me by providing me with the technical skills necessary to become a great photographer as well as a competent teacher. I will be studying the history of photography as well as various processes that go into creating images. I intend to get a masters degree in photography, and getting my bachelors in photography from a top tier arts university will provide me with the set of skills I need to succeed in a top tier graduate school.
I draw upon a unique perspective in life, and also the ability to relate well to other people. For five years I worked as a teacher in the sport of fencing, and I know I will be able to apply my talents and insight gained from that line of work into teaching photography. After 4 years of working together, I trained one of my students to become 3rd in the United States in his age group by being creative, insightful and empathetic. I am confident that my set of skills that I employed while teaching fencing will translate into a strong set of skills once I am ready to teach photography.
Obstacles that I have faced in life and how I have overcome them:
During the early onset stage of my illness, in a completely paranoid state, I tried to flee the country because I thought that the Google Corporation wanted to kill me. I got arrested at the airport after getting mauled by 6 police officers (who I thought were Google thugs dressed as officers). They charged me with 3 counts of assaulting an officer, 3 counts of resisting arrest and 1 count of disorderly conduct even though I was not violent, just extremely scared and confused. When my case went to court, the judge did not allow bail to be posted and had me held at a lockup, pending psychological evaluation. I spent the following day in Riker’s island where an intoxicated officer beat me to the point where I could not open and close my mouth properly. After a day of incredibly adverse circumstances, I was transferred to Bellevue Hospital’s prison wing where my treatment was a lot better. After 2 weeks passed and I was properly evaluated, I was moved again to Bellevue’s psychiatric ward where the treatment was even worse than the prison wing. I spent 3 months there with a broken bathroom in which I could not shower because there was no hot water. My doctors told me nothing about the medication that they wanted me to take and told me none of the symptoms of the conditions that they thought I had. I was dirty, confused, and delusional.
I spent my 22nd Birthday in jail, and Thanksgiving and Christmas in a psychiatric inpatient ward. This set of experiences left me traumatized, but with therapy, artwork and proper medication I have managed to remain positive and future oriented. I prefer not to think about the really bad experiences that I had before I understood that I had a serious mental illness, and instead choose to focus on my studies, my social life and my photography. So far, this has been effective- I barely remember the pain I felt or the fear that I experienced during the onset. I’m a successful college student, photographer and moreover a positive human being because I choose to focus on the future instead of dwelling upon the past. Without school or photography to focus upon, I would not be as mentally healthy as I am now, and I want to share my knowledge and my experiences with others.
Steps I have taken for the Pursuit of this education:
In school, outside of the required classes that I have taken, I have also taken classes in photography and film, which will both transfer over once I am enrolled in an art school. They have given me a taste of what I am expected to do in art school, while providing a technical background from which I can draw upon. I am quite enthusiastic about starting art school at either SVA or Parsons provided I am admitted. I look forward to studying alongside a student base that is as enthusiastic about photography as I am.
In addition to the classes I’ve taken, I have also worked in photography doing commercial work for the last 3 years. This provides me with a large amount of experience that I can draw from while studying in art school. I will have years of experience more than my fellow students, which will translate to a better experience in the classroom. I already have my own website (www.mikedote.com) and I already have a client base, albeit a small one. This sets me apart from your average art school student, who may have done some photography in high school, but will most probably not have too much experience with commercial photography.
In addition to the commercial work I’ve done, I have also done a good deal of charity work with my photography. My most recent charitable endeavor is “Head shots for Haiti”, a project in which I am working with 3 other photographers to do $10 headshots with 100% of the proceeds going to both Yele and the Red Cross. At the time of this essay’s completion we have raised $1400 in 4 days of shooting and show few signs of slowing down in the days to come.
I have also re-invested a large amount from my earnings as a photographer into upgrading my equipment. As with most kinds of art, the tools available to the artist often dictate to the artist what they can or cannot do. My tools allow me a great deal of options creatively and allow me to express my inspirations as true a form as possible in order to create unique works of art.
Rationale for the specific school chosen:
I would like to study at SVA or Parsons because they provide a very high level of education that is well known among art professionals and laymen alike. The schools provide a top-notch education in photography that have few parallels. They are also both in New York City, where I have a huge support network of friends and family that I know that I can rely on if adverse circumstances should arise. SVA, which is the school that I am most likely to go to if I am accepted into all of the schools I’m applying to, has a very small student to teacher ratio, which will ensure that I receive the attention I need from my professors to enhance my photographic abilities.
I will also meet a very wide range of artists during my art school education, who could possibly become involved in the not for profit that I intend to start, once I am ready to start it. Having connections in the art world will be invaluable once the time comes for me to start the not-for-profit that I have envisioned.
My plans to continue treatment while pursuing an education:
I would continue to see Dr. Vando once a month while going to therapy once every two weeks. I may increase the amount of therapy depending on how busy my schedule is. Time permitting, I may join a clubhouse like Fountainhouse where I will be able to bond with other people afflicted with mental illnesses. That experience will be invaluable in giving me the understanding and empathy needed to teach other people with mental illnesses.
