My niece is a brilliant young freshman at Bowling Green State University who is going through her first really big challenge with a very important creative project. My son, Matt, who is also her cousin, and who also graduated from the same University 13 years ago, offered this piece of advice… which I wish to share with anyone and everyone who would listen. They are words of wisdom:

Some advice: work your ass off! What you do in the next few years will shape your career for life. Stay focused and push yourself; you will be surprised at what you can do. Practice your craft over and over, find the best teachers in the school and take their classes. Find the most talented students and sit next to them, friend them, and push each other to be better. Research, find the best of the best in the industry and study what they are doing. Look for trends and changes – things your teachers might miss. Creative jobs are super competitive, working hard is an understatement if you want a good job in this industry. One last thing, know what you want and go after it. Find your dream company or someone who does what you want to do and use them as your quality bar. Put your work side by side and don’t stop till your work is as good or better. I believe in you, I know you can do this!

[Editorial Sidenote: Matt was always a brilliant artist, and one of the hardest working students I have ever known. He always gave 100% and made the best of every opportunity. And the payoff has been amazing. He is a ridiculously successful video animator and an even more successful human being.]