A lot of people think it’s crazy to go to college for photography. Then again, a lot of people think it’s crazy to become a photographer in the first place and put your future in the hands of a light proof box.  But I could never spend my workday stuck in a cubicle behind a desk. I have to be out in the field using my creativity and doing something meaningful. Do what you love, and find a way to get paid for doing it. Turn your hobby into career. If you’re not excited to get up out of bed and go to work every morning, then just stay home.

So when I tell people I went to college for photography, they do a double take and ask, “Why?” When I tell people I’m going to graduate school at BU for a master’s in photojournalism, they ask why I’d drop so much time and money into a profession that is so competitive, so driven by natural talent and largely dependent on luck.  Well…it’s true; a lot of professional photographers have told me they’ve never, ever been asked where they received their education or training. All that matters is that they can produce high quality work on a daily basis, faster than the other guy. Bad news for me, right? Nope… In times like these, it is so imperative I am receiving an education in a field where everyone thinks they are a photographer because they own a camera.

The training as a professional photojournalist I’m getting at BU will no doubt put me ahead of the competition and allow my work to be the best it can be. Better than the other guy. If I were to miss a shot in the field because I didn’t know how to operate as an effective journalist, as a photojournalist, I’ve jeopardized the images, the story, the publication and my career. That’s why I’m here at BU.

So over the next year, I’m here not because I didn’t know what to do after college. I’m here to get the training I need to succeed as a professional and to immerse myself with the people who know the profession the best. I’m here for all the internships and opportunities the city offers. It’s an investment for myself, and my future. After all, when I’m putting my future in the hands of a camera, I’ll take all the help I can get.

On a lighter note, if you’re in the city this week and bored (I can’t imagine why…), or just looking to impress a significant other with your knowledge of cool, local hangouts, get some popcorn and check out the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline. You won’t regret it. I promise.