I have been meaning to let people know what my current plans are (and were) for some time now, but for some reason, I haven’t taken the time to update these plans through my blog, instead being content to repeat the same story to dozens of people. So, here it goes, for all the people that already know most of the intimate details of my life. I’ll conveniently split it out by period to make it a bit easier for those with issues in the department of time or planning orientation.

this summer

I finished my spring quarter at SCAD in Savannah, and promptly moved all of my earthly possessions back up to my parent’s house in Greenville. No, I am not quitting my degree program, just merely relocating for pragmatic and financial reasons. The past year in Savannah has been a learning experience–certainly not always the easiest or most comfortable, but most valuable experiences aren’t. SCAD has been a mixed bag thus far, a mixture of disorganization, high tuition, and somewhat helpful classes, with a couple of extraordinary classes and professors thrown into the mix. Although I may be somewhat reticent to recommend SCAD at this point for graduate studies (at least in my field), I do know the direction of the new chair of the graphic design department, and the movement I’m seeing is positive.

So, all of these details about SCAD this past year leads me to my move back to Greenville. I realized early on that student loans were going to be one of the unfortunate casualties of my graduate education, but there’s nothing like looking at a loan statement for one year totaling over $18,000. This realization prompted me to consider working while completing my degree. Fortunately, SCAD offers an MFA in Graphic Design through distance learning, and, although the environment is not especially ideal, it does provide the pragmatic basis to pay off student loans, continue my education, and (most importantly) get married this fall. I have been working at Port City Java in Greenville since its first location opened in March 2004, and continued working in an assistant manager capacity until I left for SCAD last fall. Due to the gracious flexibility of management and owners, I was able to continue working to make extra money during breaks and on weekends up during my school quarters. After I made the decision to return to Greenville, PCJ was a logical choice to continue employment. So, I am currently working at PCJ as a store manager, soon to take control of a new store poised to open on Augusta Road. I have been training staff and dealing with logistical details since I returned on June 1, and hopefully will be opening in the next couple of weeks.

this fall

My primary plan for this fall is to get married. As most of you know, I proposed to Crystal Marquardt on August 28, 2005 in Baltimore, MD after a long friendship and brief dating period (original post of the engagement). Our wedding date is set for October 13, 2006 (yes, that would be a Friday, we’re quite aware) at a small bed and breakfast in Lancaster, SC. We both wanted a smaller wedding, so the ceremony and reception will include just family and close friends. We’ll just let all of our friends throw the big weddings! Crystal will be moving to Greenville at the end of August at the conclusion of her (and my) summer quarter at SCAD. At this point, she’ll be finished with her coursework for her MA in Art History, just leaving her master’s thesis to finish. I will continue taking classes, with a projected graduation date of August 2007, including my thesis.

the near future

For the near future, we plan to stay in Greenville while we both attempt to finish our masters degrees and pay off our student loans. I plan on staying on with PCJ for the next year or so while I finish off my coursework, and hope to eventually teach on the college level. In the more distant future, I hope to go back to school (for the last time, I think) for doctoral work. After spending much time researching Design doctoral work at a handful of schools (Carnegie-Mellon, SAIC, NC State), I feel that a more standard academic doctorate in Art History would serve me better for the long haul then a shaky degree in a still amorphous field (degree programs are still sketchy at best, including virtually no faculty with terminal degrees in the area of study). My best and most hopeful prospect for the future at this point is Emory University, which would be fully funded if I was able to get in (they accept only five candidates per year into their Art History program). Crystal and I are praying that God would lead us in the right path over the next number of years as we attempt to complete our education, and find the next thing He has for us.

We would welcome getting together with our friends that we’ve lost track of, or have inadvertently broken contact with. Although this summer will be busy with school, wedding plans, and work, we would welcome getting together with you as we finally get a place of our own in the Greenville area.