Cruising Through the Currents: My MMS 173 Voyage 

By Faith Ysabel David

When I was looking for a picture to use for this assignment, the most recent picture that I took caught my attention. This picture of a boat was taken on Mother’s Day. I thought the sculpture of the boat in the photo could be a great metaphor or symbol for my experiences throughout the course. Similar to a boat sailing in rough and calm waters, this is also my experience in MMS 173. There were days when I didn’t panic because I knew what to do, or I instantly had a number of ideas on what I could do for a certain assignment. But then there were also moments of chaos and rough seas, where I would just hold off on the work until the very last minute because I was overwhelmed in every aspect of my life and I just didn’t know what to do. There were times when creativity came easily, and there were also times when I had to talk myself out of the slump I was in, to continue and to make progress.

This course tested my creativity, my comfort, and my ability to come up with something or anything at all. There were times when I second-guessed myself, whether my output would be good enough or not, or whether I would be able to accomplish the work as asked, and on time. Similar to how a boat does not stay still on the water, going left or right and up or down, that was how my growth and experiences in this course were. It emphasized that growth is not linear, and neither is progress, and I’m glad that I am aware of it.

Some of the goals that I set for myself for this course I have achieved, and some I should have tried harder to reach. One of my goals was to keep trying, and I achieved that as I have reached the end of the course. Another goal was to exert my 110%, which I think I did not achieve, but I know what I did was my best, and my best is not the same every day. One of my noteworthy experiences in the class was having and being able to learn from my peers. Seeing and reading their outputs and thoughts on the course site really helped me, and I learned a lot. I was also just in awe every time I would look at somebody’s portfolio. It made an impact on my perspective and widened my vision of how I view things.

One thing that I could have done better was my participation. Aside from the requirements that I had to submit, I know that I could have done more. I was not able to participate in or attend the face-to-face sessions, which was a bummer, as I know it would have really helped me with my outputs. I was also not able to attend the synchronous meetings because of my schedule, but I watched all of the available recordings afterward. I also read through the discussion forums and critique corners, but I was not able to contribute my own. I should have done better, but please know that I did my best and I tried.

Now that I know the knowledge, process, and everything in between for achieving and finishing the outputs, this course made me appreciate photography even more. Though I think my nervousness about the process for a certain task will never go away, I know that it is a fulfilling process that tests how hard I exerted my effort. I’ve realized that it is not just a press of a button or the point of a camera, it is so much more than that. The planning, the process, and the post-process are all vital in determining how my outcome will be. It made me want to continue learning about photography.

I really appreciated the synchronous sessions, and most especially the recorded videos, as they gave me the opportunity to go back and rewind what I needed. The face-to-face session, as I heard from my classmates, was really fun too. I just wish that I had the chance to attend. I am also really grateful for my classmates who were willing to share tips and opinions, as it really helped me with what I should do for my outputs. I felt that I was not alone, even with this kind of setup. Another thing that I most appreciated was the course manual, it really helped me all throughout. I appreciate the references, links, and videos. 

As an online learner, I know that I have a long way to go, and my important takeaway from this course is to not compare myself to others, because each of us has our own unique journey and perspective. An output might be beautiful to me, but to others, it might not be. One thing I know is to keep going and to keep exercising my creativity and ideas, no matter how small or big they are. And to always keep trying and practicing, because that is how people get so good at what they do. Another thing is to always remember that growth is a process, and it is not linear. I may be doing well one day, but I might not do so well another day, and I’ve realized that it’s okay, because progress is progress no matter how small. Another lesson is to have confidence and to go beyond the box I’ve set myself in, because I may never know what’s on the other side if I keep staying rooted where I am. I really appreciate that I have gone out of my comfort zone with one of the assignments.

One thing I know is that I would like to continue learning about photography, and I will not let it end here. I want to keep trying my best until it shows in the photos I’ve taken and will take. I know it won’t be easy, and there will always be challenges, but it makes everything worth it.