Amazing
Cut and Paste experience…
So alot have been asking me what happened and how it felt to be in cut and paste. I just have to say I’m still baffled. I lost horribly that night due to many factors such as 1000’s of people watching, one of my idols Jeff Staple looking behind my back intensely watching me, and the camera guy being only inches away from my face. It got me so nervous that i couldn’t even draw a straight line and couldn’t do everything i wanted to do in those 15 minutes.
But even with all that, my heart almost bursting out of my chest, to the sweat dripping down on my tablet, to even my nervous hands not being able to do what they were told…. it was by far the best night of my life. When i say this statement it’s not at all something that should be taken lightly but instead taken to a literal sense that i been living in the world for 23 years and that night alone tops any day, any memories i had. To have all my friends out there cheering me on, having co-workers and friends wearing my t-shirt yelling my name and seeing what i do put a hidden smile in my face that i tried to hold. To have my parents looking out in back cheering me, hearing them call my family in the Philippines and Hawaii to tune in to watch their son in one of the biggest design competition in NYC was incredible. It’s been a year since i’ve graduated and it’s been a long ride to get to where I am. I graduated with honors.. landed a job at one of the most prestigious digital agencies in the world… to winning awards…. to being acknowledge in blogs and featured to where i look to inspiration. I been on top of the world lately.
This is coming from a boy that almost failed in high-school, and was told by my guidance counselor that i can never live a life as a designer, and someone that got rejected to FIT the first time he applied. I’ve had so much failure’s when i was younger, but ever since i said eff it im going for what i always dreamed to be and reapplied to FIT and getting my acceptance letter life has been bliss. I am one of the few that wake up to a job he loves and one of the lucky to call himself happy.
To everyone who have been supporting my work ever since I first made my spider-man fanpage on angelfire I just have to say thank you. For all the kind words of what people had to say about my designs and even the negative. For those who just gave me a simple pat on the shoulder when i became discourage and for all those who have been emailing me about how I’m their source of inspiration. Like i said before i am nowhere near the best, but i can say how happy my life has turned out to be. I’m still learning and striving to reach higher goals and to never let failure defeat me. So lets end this in a sappy korney way but a quote that i live by ever since my success started.
“aim for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars“
March 27th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
glad to hear you didn’t let some failures and rejection stop you from doing what you do, looks like you’re going to prove your counselor wrong. keep up the great work, you have my support all the way from the bay.
March 29th, 2009 at 3:03 am
congratulations, it sounded AMAZING and that you met Jeff staple!! love his designs :D:D
It’s true though, it’s hard to try really hard at something when everyone else isn’t really seeing it your way.
i am struggling heavily right now but I think I’m picking up my slack a bit more everyday. being in a slump is really really hard but reading your story’s great and is an inspiration to not only new designers but everyone else
keep up the good work
March 29th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Congrats Ray! It’s very cool to see you accomplishing your goals, looking forward for more!
March 30th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I’m proud of you too Ray!
I remember visiting your blog years ago when you were still a student!
Can we see what you did at Cut and Paste?
March 31st, 2009 at 9:04 pm
nicky’s photos and vids looked so cool! i wish i was there. congrats =)
March 31st, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I’m glad to hear that you didn’t let all this negativity bring you down.
It must have been so crazy being up there!
FIT!!! I’m so envious!
It’s okay that you didn’t win. You are a winner to all of us for making it this far and we all know you are going to go far!
April 5th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
That is amazing, Ray. I am so proud of you! What an incredible experience to be a part of. You are certainly right about aiming for the moon - and look at all the difference it made in your life to believe in yourself and not what other people said about you and your potential!
I wish I could have watched it live. I got your message, but it was a day too late.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:30 am
AWWW SPIDER MAN FANPAGE ON ANGELFIRE!!!! I CANNOT GET OVER THAT!!! *pinches your cheeks* good work! you deserve it all after working hard =)
April 16th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Wow that definitely sounds like a great experience regardless of the fact that you lost “horribly”.
You’re very ambitious and I’m sure people (including myself) will become more motivated after reading this entry.
In the words of William Hung…FORROW YOUR DREAMS!
Also, that second picture is so awesome. I love how everyone is looking up with prety much the same exact facial expression!