I promised a Christmas-depression rant, and I did not deliver.  I apologize to those of you who may have gone crazy from anticipation.  Going back to college after a month-long vacation proved to be more of a burden than I expected.  Warning: This post is a bit of a downer, but please bear with me.  At the moment I am fighting the demon that is fear.  I only have approximately eight months of school left until I graduate, and the pressure is building.  I started my first portfolio class today, and the teachers did an excellent job freaking me out.  For the next eleven weeks, I have to produce an impressive 30-50 image portfolio that will get me into the second and final portfolio class.  I have to impress a five-person committee twice; three of those people will be complete strangers who do not know me and are not connected to the photography program.  On top of that, I have to pass Western Civilization and three other photography classes.  Besides that, life is sunshine and roses.

I think I have been a downer for long enough.  How ’bout I post some quotes about fear in an attempt to lift the mood?

“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  – Franklin D. Roosevelt

“It’s not about being fearless, it’s about acting in spite of fear.”  – Veronica Roth, Divergent

Overcoming fear is a process as is deciding to overcome fear.  I am not suddenly feeling courage and strength being poured into me, but God willing that will happen soon.  At any moment the words of those three quotes will sink in, I will pull up my big girl pants, and I will do what I have to do.  Fear is scary to experience, but the underlying truth that we never want to admit is that fear is beneficial.  When has overcoming fear ever made someone more weak?

Stay fearful readers!  It is good for you, despite the terrifying process.

– Lauren Michele  :)

4 Days Until Youtube…