Katie West: Today at work

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Katie West: Today at work

therealkatiewest:

Today I was talking with one of my fellow teachers at work and she was talking to me because she wanted to help me network with whatever it was I wanted to do. I told her that what I did wasn’t really the most appropriate thing to bring into a school of business. She didn’t understand so I showed…

I get this a lot. I am a chemist by trade, and one of the few that I’ve met that has a creative side. What you do for money and what you do for pleasure shouldn’t always be the same thing.

I struggle with this too. But then I think, why shouldn’t I love a bunch of different things? Why can’t I love baking and photography and chemistry and knitting, and choose only one to be my career? Who cares if it doesn’t fit. And who cares if I don’t fit the persona that goes along with any of them?

I think Katie is wonderful. And I am sick of people who judge others in this stupid unthinking way, who just assume that everyone is the way they “seem.” I’m sick of black and white.

November 16, 2011

39 notes

steampoweredmedia said: Until your passion pays the bills, it might be best to hide it from your day-time self. “Auras” easily become muddied.
leighwoosey said: What does it matter what they think of you? Why do you need anyone to think of you as a creative person based on anything other than your acts of creativity?
ekstasis liked this
themaskedmanx liked this
hedontrightlyknow liked this
iwillnotsuckyou said: She used the word “tasteful.” You can’t take anyone seriously who uses the word “tasteful” without irony. It’s like a reporter who refers to a new drug as a “menace.”
sherahsbrains said: Don’t give her that kind of power. you know who you are, so who cares.
mollypeck said: Maybe she thinks of photographers as pretentious or condescending jerky-pants. I’m going with that. You can’t stop me.
blankpagesandinvisibleink liked this
sixtyfourwest liked this
mysecretmonsters said: you are worth more than how others might perceive you. you do this for you, not for them. Keep it up girrrll!
walkwhilereading liked this
scubed liked this
bluemeanies liked this
billyogawa liked this
sleep--naked liked this
deuscain liked this
mckinneycantspeak liked this
thedistantone said: It’s also possible she just isn’t a very good judge of these things.
sxyblkmn liked this
thecaptainoftheship365 liked this
coyotesqrl liked this
fishingicehole liked this
seej500 said: No no - it means a) You maintain a professional attitude at work, as a good teacher should (and I really mean this in a positive way) b) She has oversimplified her preconceptions of what an artist looks like c) You have a card up your sleeve.
seanoftheundead said: But you’re an amazing photographer, regardless of your aura or whatever you have skill and an artistic eye for beauty. I hope in whatever way you rethink your life you still take pictures.
supersleeves reblogged this from therealkatiewest and added:

get this a lot. I am a chemist by trade, and...the few that I’ve met that has a creative...
tremblebot liked this
verbalviper said: People have such preconceived ideas about what kind of person will be “artistic” or “creative”, they’re behavior, their dress, etc. So silly. It’s just like sex-just cuz someone’s buttoned up at work doesn’t mean they’re not a freak in the bedroom.:)
moeisadreamer liked this
whiskeywithwater liked this
nikkotine said: I often get the opposite response. A lot of people can’t see me as a Biology student, let alone an aspiring dentist. “Wait, you’re NOT an art student?” Meh.
precariousowl said: i don’t think this lady knows what she’s talking about. you’re creative and your work is remarkable. you’re an inspiration to myself and many people. thank you for what you do, and don’t let anyone tell you or make you feel otherwise!! :)
weakmeatstrongeat liked this
beenthinking liked this
asasparrow said: From what you’ve said about your students, etc. I think you’re still being the same you at work and outside it. Just because someone wouldn’t have picked you as a photographer doesn’t mean you aren’t one, or that others mightn’t guess differently.
thefallingtower said: I wouldn’t say that this is necessarily a failure on your part. If a failure at all, it’s more on her part. If that makes sense.
ericlodwick liked this
thecolortwo said: …because an acquaintance didn’t see you for the majestic pillar of creativity that you are? oh please.
thecolortwo liked this
therealkatiewest posted this