Firsthand account: preparing to be an artist and a professional.(Knowledge & Career)

What is on the mind of a college freshman studying for a career in digital content creation? To find out, we spoke recently with TJ Zafarana, who is currently enjoying his freshman year at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Zafarana's father heads worldwide marketing for the workstation division at HP, so he's no stranger to how difficult this industry can be for someone just starting out. So far, his school experience has been very positive. "Everything is new to me, and school is presenting so many opportunities I can hardly keep them straight," he says.

Although Zafarana is at the early stage of his education, some of his experiences could help others in choosing the right college and program, or at least get them to ask the right questions.

Zafarana says his path to SCAD became clear through a combination of his own interests in technology and art, and the support and encouragement of people he met along the way. "The summer before my senior year in high school, I tagged along with my dad to SIGGRAPH in Boston," the annual conference and exhibition for computer graphics professionals. "1 found myself transplanted to a whole new world. Suddenly, I was talking to designers from DreamWorks, Pixar, and other influential cradles of design innovation. Interacting with these people kicked it off for me. I was hooked! During that trip, I decided to go into digital animation."

Zafarana says that when he returned to high school to start his senior year, a supportive teacher encouraged him to create a portfolio. "Looking back, I realize I went to a great high school in Colorado. Without the support of the staff at Rocky Mountain High School, I never would have had the opportunity to develop my portfolio with AP assignments and projects like designing prom ads. My portfolio turned into 24 entirely digital pieces, and I used it to apply to SCAD."

Getting Acclimated

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