2009 has been without a doubt, the most intense, challenging, cathartic, busy, revelatory, extraordinary year of my life, and I’d like to share why with you.

In February, I returned to university to complete the final year of my graphic design degree – a degree which I started in 2001, and should only take four years to complete, but took me nine. I had to enrol fulltime for this final year, and I completed it while working part-time in my public service job, being a mum and continuing to build my photography business. Some weeks I put in an excess of 60 hours on study alone, and other weeks were a juggling act of photo sessions, editing, deadlines and a constantly sick toddler.

I’m not really sure how I made it through, and I certainly didn’t expect to perform as well as I did. It was hard and fast, and it still feels a little unreal.  I handed in my final portfolio in early November and received top marks.  Myself and fellow students hosted our own exhibition showcasing all our favourite work on November 20, and graduation was last Thursday at Parliament House. I’m a bit embarrassed to list it here, but I will – I took out the Australian Graphic Design Association ACT Prize for the best industry ready graduate, the Kodak Australasia Prize for Graphic Design Excellence, and a Chancellor’s Award for the top GPA in the degree. My work was selected to be included in an exhibition which is currently running at the Gallery of Australian Design in Canberra, and I’ve been featured in the Canberra Times twice in the past month. I’ve never experienced such a feeling of accomplishment or been heaped with so many accolades. It is an amazing feeling to say the least!

I was asked by a lovely journalist who interviewed me on my graduation day what my secret was. I’m not sure if my babble made sense – I was extremely emotional, as you can probably imagine – but basically what I tried to tell him is that I followed my heart this year and I put 100% of myself into every single thing that came my way. I actually started the year off full of fear and apprehension, but I made a concerted effort to open my heart and mind to the experience, and within a few short months I found my groove. I saw every single self directed design project as an opportunity to extend my photography skills, and to create something I would truly love. I saw the challenge of juggling so many things at once as a chance to really prove to myself that attitude is far more important than circumstance.

I am so proud of myself. It’s not the accolades, the praise or the piece of paper with my degree on it that matters. It’s the fact that I overcame the kind of situation that many people wouldn’t have even attempted in the first place, and proved to myself that I can do anything if I really want to. It’s the fact that I found myself artistically because I allowed myself to explore what really makes me tick as a creative being, rather than letting the outside world tell me what I should be doing.  It’s the fact that I listened to my heart and the movement that flowed as a result allowed me to perform to the best I am capable of performing as a human being.

If anyone would like to see some of my design work, you can find my folio website here: www.whatkatiedoes.com.au

In the flurry that preceded graduation and the silly season, I took a few days out to do Jesh de Rox’s life {as an artform} workshop with 19 other photographers from around Australia. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I was so ready for everything that came from those three and a half days. Right now I feel as though everything is aligning in the most perfect way for me to move on to the next phase in my life, and I can’t tell you how excited and thrilled I am to find out what that might be.

When I first decided to go to Jesh’s workshop, I did an excited google search seeking real stories from photographers who had done it. I found very little, and I understand why now – it’s so hard to put into words (especially words on a screen) the amazingly powerful transformative process that took place. I couldn’t possibly tell you all the amazing experiments and assignments we did because out of context they would seem completely insane, but I will say this…

In three and a half days I lost a lot of what holds me back in life, I rediscovered parts of myself that had been long buried, I found answers to questions that have been burning within me for a big part of my life, I gained a new understanding for who I am as a person and an artist, I fell utterly in love with life and all the amazing possibilities it holds, and I formed beautiful, powerful friendships to last a lifetime. I feel as though I can now move forward confidently towards my dreams with my eyes and my heart truly open. And I can’t freaking WAIT!!!

So I would like to say thank you to some people who have played a big part in this amazing year. To my clients, both those who I already knew and those who I’ve recently met for the first time – thank you so very much for letting me into your lives and trusting my vision so implicitly, it has been an absolute honour to capture those special moments in your lives. To my dearest friends, specifically Jen, Bec and Erin, who have helped me so much this year with incredible amounts of support, faith and love – I am forever indebted and grateful. To one very special teacher, MJ, who pushed me to be the best designer I could be, and made me smile along the way – your dedication meant the world to me. To my parents, who gave me my determination and creative spark – thank you for being my biggest role models. To Jesh, the most selfless, gifted individual I have ever had the pleasure to meet – you have changed my life in the most wonderful of ways, thank you for the space you created for me and everyone else. To everyone I met in Canberra during the workshop - thank you for your friendships, your trust and for letting me be me. To my gorgeous boy, who kept a smile on my face, even in the most stressful moments – you have given me so much that I can’t put into words yet. And last, but definitely not least, to my husband, who has had a stressful year himself with work and study, and was still there for me every step of the way – you listened to my rants, you gave me feedback on everything I did even when you weren’t in the mood, you helped me make decisions, I couldn’t have done this without you by my side.

Roll on 2010! I am ready for you!

x Katie

P.S Stay tuned for some exciting announcements over the next month or two, and many more blog posts, because I have a lot to catch up on!