DIGITAL STORYTELLING

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The challenge at the beginning of any journey is typically filled with excitement, ambivalence, anxiety, and a desire to reach the end. I had no expectations when I signed up for this class; only the thought that there had to be some similarities in the method of songwriting and storytelling. At best, I’ve written more than a handful of songs over several decades, and the thought of telling stories through a different lens that wasn’t musically driven was a challenge I was willing to accept. I had no idea the class was going to challenge skill sets that I thought were simple, and at the end, give me a new appreciation for humility, quality, and distinction.  

Additionally, the skill-sets and stories that have shaped my semester have given me a better sense of confidence in utilizing the digital medium as an extension of my creative thoughts. Here in my digital domain, I realize there is the ability to have an energy exchange through a narrative story and visual imagery. To convey these images and move forward into other projects, I introduced myself to a new website platform and dusted off the cobwebs from my Canva skills. Hence, the visual choices that I share in this space are meant to convey my personal journey back to academia, give insight into my musical career, and showcase my development using marketing platforms.

I was coming off the good feels from completing the Personal Narrative and ready to move on to the Sense of Place assignment. The confidence I felt after the PN story was a little hard to muster as I failed to grasp a connection at the start. Call it writer's block; I had it. I landed on the Atlanta Beltline for my place and gained back some of that gusto to get ahead of this project. Regrettably, this project caused a slight setback in my midterm progress. I wasn’t able to get access to the Beltline a couple of times due to the weather, but on the third and final try, I was able to capture the initial feel and look I was hoping to get from the start. While this was a bear to complete, the feeling of relief after submitting the final cut was a weight off my chest. 

Nearing the end of my storytelling semester, the Rescue Dog Games assignment was a great way to assert my visual acuity and narrative skills into action. As a former dog owner, the joy of promoting the mission of the RDG event was almost a cakewalk. By this time, my editing skills in Canva, coupled with the web design platform, made the project and the final cut satisfying. Additionally, the ability to partner with the client and find ways to establish a connection and develop a marketing strategy is an incredible value add to any job experience.