A Strange Journey of Love and Design
I grew up during a strange time. Being born in 1994, I feel I was sandwiched between an old world and a new world. An old world where physical copies were the norm, and to do anything required someone to leave the house. A new world where almost everything is available to you on a device that fits in your hand. I think this is a very advantageous generation to be born in. For me, this meant I was born just in time to experience the cultural phenomenon that is Halo. To say this game had an impact on me would be an understatement.
While I was a teenager, Halo became the hit for me that made me believe that making games was a possible career. Sure, there were other games that I liked, but Halo is the one that made me believe. Once I made my decision to pursue that, I started carving a path to make that happen. I started to learn 3D modeling on my own, took some programming classes at a local college near my hometown, and even grouped up with some friends to make a game together. Everything I made was a joy, and I felt like I had unlocked something that had been buried away. I felt I needed to take things to the next level, which is why I decided to pursue an education to further my skills. This led me to Full Sail University.
I attended Full Sail University in 2014 and worked really hard at crafting my skills, and it seemed that I was set to become an environment artist for games. At the time, there were no level design courses, so I thought perhaps it was best to stick to art. I started honing my skills for 3D modeling, texturing, and lighting, and I loved every moment of the process. By 2016, I had graduated with a B.A. in Game Art. I even received an award during my time in school for the small Unreal Engine level I made. The award was for lighting and texturing. All of it was really exciting, and I was starting to see a future for myself on this path. However, during my time in school, my life took a very strange turn that I could never have expected.