Hi, I'm KC, 21 years old and a nurse. I passed the boards last July 2011 and I haven't worked as a nurse yet. However, I've always been in love with art. I draw a lot and try to learn things like coloring and stuff from online tutorials. I'm going to start my career as a nurse as a volunteer.

The thing is...

I don't really want to be a nurse. I want to draw. I want to animate. I want to create digital things, 3D models, make them move and tell stories.

My friend told me to attend art workshops to help me improve my work and create a portfolio or something if I want to be an animator someday, but is it even possible without the degree of fine arts or anything related to that? I'm probably going to find a part time job to support myself with this cause I think my parents won't (they already paid for my 4 years in college (BS Nursing).

I need some advice. I think I should go through with it, but I'm always always afraid I might fail in the end.

I pinged just in case anyone knows this thing with being an animator. I really need help.

; As far as I am aware, if you want to make any fair money, you will need certifications with animation programs. Sorry. :(

Then I have to go through the whole 4 years of fine arts to qualify for any job relate to art? :x

Yeah, for animation you need a degree or certificate in animation. And even then it's a REALLY competitive field to get into.

HOWEVER, theres nothing to say that you can't work in art on the side. What about illustration jobs? You don't need a degree to do most of this stuff because it requires skill, not a program know how. You could try getting jobs in doing character design, set design, childrens books etc. You need a portfolio but as far as that goes you could take on jobs like that while being a nurse as well. This would allow you to keep a steady job until you break into the art business as a freelancer. That's basically my plan anyways ❤

That's probably where my problem is.

Thing is, starting as a nurse here is not easy at all. I have to volunteer for 3 months to 1 year and still not be sure if the hospital would absorb me and give me a regular job. And it would probably feel like dying inside for me.

I'll keep that in mind though. I can probably volunteer as nurse and take art workshops at the same time. Thank you! ❤

I left college in Fine Arts study to be a nurse ._. I'd say go for it,seriously :/

Ahhh I understand that. It's fairly easy here (I live in canada). My best friend went to school two years to be a nurse and did the volunteering while at school and got a job right after. She's now a manager at an old age home. LOL. SO. that's where I was coming from here. I was thinking being a nurse would be a good job to hold. But if that's not the case that does change a lot of things.

If you're 100% serious about animation and hating being a nurse I would say go back to school for it. You're only 21, and if it's what you want to do you should fight for it. You never know what will happen ❤ Until you decide, taking art workshops and volunteering as a nurse is a very smart thing to do. I would suggest anatomy and perspective courses above anything else. I went to art school for a year and that was the mostttttt important thing especially for people wanting to get into animation.

Wait, really? But why? Go for... studying arts?

God, I wish I live there. It's like every nurse here wants to go to Canada, New Zealand, Anywhere in Middle east or Singapore. I have to get 2 years work experience and pass NCLEX and IELTS just to qualify there. Hospitals here are overflowing with nurses. ;_;

It's not that I hate it. It's just that, I would rather draw than do anything related to that. Yeah, but I guess I'll have to go through the volunteering thing and workshops. If nothing comes out of being a nurse in 6 months or so, then I, at least, have a reason to quit.

As much as I'm loving heart,college wasn't 1)my cup of tea, 2) the teachers were to strict. I'd say to go for which one you like the most,the one who will make you happy.

Thats sooo insane. In Canada there's such a huge demand for nurses and doctors haha. That's what MY parents want me to do, though I'll probably go into something art based as well. It's baically the only thing I can DO at all. I was thinking advertising or something businessy based personally but yeahhh. It's a good idea to give it a shot at least! That way your schooling wasn't entirely for nothing. And even if you don't break into the animaion field later or change your mind you can go back to nursing if you choose ❤

Ahhhh you had to deal with wonderful art teachers too huh? I went to art school for a year and not one of my teachers would EVER give ANY student an A because they didnt think anyone was good enough for it. Thatttt is why I left. I'm not gonna pay out my ass for C's and B's.

I had to deal with delicious teachers.I never got any A,s or B's,and I was spending most of my MOM monies in arts supplies.Each week it was "Okay fellow,we need a new tablet X by X,copic markers,perma pen...".........."For next class". Are you serious?Copic's pen are DARN expensive.

Ayy Nurse... it's just SO MUCH WORK TO DO. Although, of course if you like it then it's a different story. BUT thank you for that information, at least it gave me a little hope with being a nurse. Cause I think it's pretty hopeless here. Nurses are working at Call Centers cause they can't find a job as a nurse or won't volunteer. The salary here of a nurse is pretty low too, around $300 a month, and that's already decent. (though I don't really care about the pay, it's not like I live on my own) As much as I like helping people, it's just not what I thought I would be, you know. I thought maybe I would be buried in papers, drawing, animating, meeting deadlines... stuff like that.

I'll probably do that. I wouldn't want those 4, agonizing years, to be wasted. Freelance sounds good too. ^_^ I can breathe a little now.

I see. Well, nursing wasn't very easy too but I really liked it when I was still in college. This job hunting thing is making my head hurts and it's making me think I might have made the wrong choice after all. I really really took my time to decide if I should study nursing or arts.

You never found a job as a nurse..?

Yeah, i spent most of my FOOD money on supplies. There were weeks that I was living off popcicles and popcorn LOL u_u It was definitely intense. I've considered going back but.. I'm not sure it's worth it haha. Just the one year shook me up in more ways than one.

I hope everything works out for you! At least you have the options and the skills to make it in either direction I'm sure ❤ At least you'll never be stuck doing something because you have no other ideas of what to do or where to go.

Not here at least. I'm still applying to different hospitals though, even as a trainee or volunteer. I just need the experience. I feel like my mind's getting rusty cause I've been doing absolutely nothing related to nursing for the past 6 months or so.

And now that I think about it... I took nursing cause it was way to cheaper than fine arts. (and finding a job as a nurse wasn't so hard then) I feel bad for my parents spending money on me when I should be doing something to help myself. Also, I'm always afraid I might not meet the teacher's expectations. Sure I'm good with drawing but my creativity level is way too low. Still, I like it when I draw something.

So I guess... job as a nurse first before I do art... It doesn't sound so bad now.

Thank you so much! ❤ Hopefully, things would be okay, somehow. I really want to give being a nurse a try, I'll just have to continue drawing on the side. ^_^

Thank you again! :)

I remember interviewing somebody from PiXAR for this school project of mine. And ykw, it's all about your portfolio. If you're some art guru, the degree doesn't matter. You can have some random degree and still be an animator if you know how to execute professional drawing skills. Because that's what they want. If you think about it, it's quite logical, no? He told me that some people didn't just go right into drawing when they came out of school, they did something else and drew on the side/ their spare time. Uhm..... I think that's it ; u; Bottom line: it's possible.