Schools out for...ever

Let me preface and say that I'll return to my traditional posts, assignments after this quick one. And thanks to Desi for grabbing the graduation shot of me last Sunday.

I am almost back in charge of my life. That's right; sleep is no longer ruling my life. Well, maybe I should say lack of sleep is no longer in charge.

Since getting home I've been trying to catch up with life back in Baltimore and trying hard to adjust to the jet lag. A 14-hour time difference really kicks your tail end when you get back home to your own bed.

But I am surviving and getting back to normal. Speaking of which, my life is no longer ordinary. Since I've been probably five-years-old, I've been enrolled in public school and then college. That has all come to an end. I finally graduated college. Woo-hoo!

I graduated from Towson University with degree in Mass Communication with a focus in Journalism and New Media.

Now that I am done, it feels good; really good. But it now opens a new chapter in my life.

I am not quite sure which direction it will go, but I do know no matter where I land it will involve having my cameras in hand, hopefully seeing the world, meeting new people daily and informing people with my photographs. Or so that would be ideal. I guess what I am saying is that I live for photojournalism and traveling.

As for now, I am getting back to the daily grind and working hard at scouring through my favorite images from 2008 for contest season.

Up until now, I've never entered the prestigious competitions like NPPA's Best of Photojournalism, Picture of the Year International and White House News Photographers Association.

I've only entered the competition my campus paper paid for: Society of Professional Journalists.

While I pulled in some national awards with that, I always thought I should be going against those I was shooting next to on my freelance assignments.

So wish me luck in my contest entries, and more importantly, my future endeavors.

Finally, speaking of school. Towson featured me on their Web site back at the beginning of the semester. I didn't really want to be put up on the site, but it is what it is. Check it here.

(Thanks to Desiree Stover of Towson University's Photographic Services for snagging a shot of myself walking the stage at Towson University’s Winter Commencement. Thanks again, Desi!)