Looking in the Rear View Mirror at my Big Moments of the Decade
I have gone back and forth with ideas for this recap blog as the decade comes to a close. Welp, I think I found something I like! Special thanks to the Vlog Brothers for their Decade Recaps, they focused on a few big moments of the past 10 years and I felt like that’s the direction I needed.
In this post, instead of the outline format I had previously or some sort of 2 hour long podcast, I’m going to share the 5 biggest moments that occurred in my life from the start of 2010 to the start of 2020. Simple, fairly light on exposition, and to the point it is. These are in no real order and some of these moments aren’t happy, but they are important to who I am as the new year and decade begin. Happy New Year AND Decade everyone!
#1: Going on the first date with my Wife (May 2013)
In 2013 I messaged my wife on OKCupid. She had fairly mysterious pictures and only a little information on the profile, that was enough to intrigue me. After a week or so of messages, we met up at John Harvard’s in Natick for beer, bread, and outstanding conversation.
While my wedding day was phenomenal earlier this year, that first date and the instant chemistry and connection we shared has influenced so much of my life from then on that it’s relevance to where my life is today cannot be overstated.
#2: Being Hired on Contract by Sony Bend (September 2010)
It had been a year and a half since I graduated college. I had no job prospects of any kind in an area that was ravaged by the Great Recession and my girlfriend at the time and I had many fights over my lack of work. By the start of 2010 I was a man with a plan, and if that plan had failed my life would be vastly different.
I spent the first half of 2010 working on an Game focused Environment Artist portfolio and when August came around, I applied to what was probably nearly 80 game jobs. The process was grueling and defeating at most times, but in the end, a small studio in Bend Oregon gave me a chance with an art test. I did just enough (I assume) to be offered a contract. The sense of relief and hope I felt was almost indescribable. Once I left Indiana for Oregon, I started the process of truly becoming me.
#3: Moving to Philadelphia (May 2015)
My wife (then girlfriend of 2 years) got a job in Delaware in 2015. We were living together in Brookline at the time and she asked me to come with her. I was a bit torn, as I loved being in the Boston area and was doing well enough as a freelancer with my minimal expenses. However, I loved Kelsey and wanted to be with her, and I did figure that Philly would put me closer to New York City, an area with more potential for career/business growth than Boston had at the time. I decided to go with her.
Once all of the moving in and settling was done, some rough patches started to appear. I suffered a few freelance failures and overestimated what I could comfortably afford. Those issues compounded my struggle with adjusting to a new city. This led to financial stress, which led to fights, which eventually led to a big fight. This was a stressful time for both of us individually and as a couple.
All of the above difficulties eventually led me to reach out to Drexel University to look for some sort of teaching work. They immediately hired me as an adjunct and I ended up doing well as an instructor. The increased stability immediately led to improvements in my relationship, finances, and my freelance work. Most of the good that occurred from 2016 on can be traced back to my first application to Drexel.
#4: Going Full Time Freelance (March 2014)
I had been working some degree of freelance leading up to March of 2014, but when I returned from GDC that year, I saw the future and knew that I could capitalize on it. Game Development was coming to the masses and tools were cheaper than ever to use, so I invested in a badly needed new PC and software and did everything I could think of to tell the world “I’m who you need for your project.”
Because of my freelance business and past AAA experience, I was able to work with and meet many people, some of whom I am friends with today. I loved working remotely for myself and as a hired gun, and I was generally good at it. Freelancing led me to many different projects, industries, and even locations.
#5: Shadowcore (January-September 2018)
If you’re into a long, heavy read of what the Shadowcore experience was go here. It’s not happy so if you’re in a good mood, I’d skip it for now. The short version is that much of the front half of 2018 was hell (and frankly most of the year was rough).
Facing professional uncertainty as this experience wore on, I started looking for something more stable. Unfortunately Drexel wasn’t able to be the answer at the time, but I did find something faster than expected. It was in an unlikely place; Warminster Pennsylvania at a shower door company.
Dreamline had it’s issues, but I learned a lot while I worked there and I had a generally good experience at work. I made a lot of new friends who I still see every few weeks, and worked under a boss who I got along with quite well. I also had what I had never really had before; stable work, 401k options, and great insurance that I didn’t have to pay for. Seriously, the one thing Dreamline got 100% right was it’s insurance.
Shadowcore and the experience tied to it pushed me in new and uncomfortable ways. It forced me to grow as a person though confronting my failures while trying new professional avenues. While I’m at a positive place today, the pain I went though to get here is something I sincerely hope to avoid for the rest of my life.