1. Technology matters, and access matters, but that’s not what you need to learn. Technology will

change. The principles of design and of rhetoric, the thought processes, and the ability to see in a new, nuanced way is what matters. Given a long

day and an equipped computer, you can learn Photoshop. Learning to know how to make

something in Photoshop that is amazing takes so much more thought than editing.

2. Talent is talent, but nothing says success like practice. Don’t EVER stop, if you’re doing what you want to be doing. You will get better.

3. Failing doesn’t mean what you thought it did when you got here, to

Oxford, OH. You’re going to try and fail and try and fail and try and fail your

entire life. You have to understand that NO ONE succeeds without first failing.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is a filthy liar.

4. You need to make stuff to know the world and to be valuable in the world. Anyone can buy stuff.

Anyone can talk about the quality of stuff. YOU

NEED TO MAKE STUFF! MAKE STUFF! Tear stuff up. Redesign stuff.

5. While it might not seem like it right now, in the end, there’s no real value with being “like

everyone else.” Know what it is you’ll stand for, and STAND FOR IT. Work for it. Be someone. Make moves that matter. Use the education you’re being

blessed with and the talents and skills you’ve honed to go out there and make stuff happen.

5. While it might not seem like it right now, in the end, there’s no real value with being “like

everyone else.” Know what it is you’ll stand for, and STAND FOR IT. Work for it. Be someone. Make moves that matter. Use the education you’re being

blessed with and the talents and skills you’ve honed to go out there and make stuff happen.