Creative Connections takes place in a big youth hostel fitted with classrooms and seminar halls. For an entire day students attend their chosen class where they learn about different techniques and work on a number of projects. The finished work is than displayed at an exhibition.
I was an assistant to Weston Maggio, a digital imaging teacher and a Wacom tablet/Photoshop expert. My work consisted of helping out students with problems and questions, Helping out with getting their ideas out and making a quality digital poster. This proved to be very helpful for Weston since he could concentrate on teaching and lecturing and didn't have to be interrupted by little problems students might have. I also helped out around the hostel with computer related problems and at the exhibition I was in charge of the students that helped setting up the gallery. Me and a drawing class student also made a little colaboration, I used her pencil portrait of one fo the organizers and digitaly colored it in photoshop. At the end of the event we gave The portrait as a gift. Through out the week I was also asked to present my college work, And give students a presentation and lecture about getting into university and tips about making your portfolio. Also a small presentation about keeping a successful and productive sketchbook. I got some great feedback and many questions from the students after my two, hour long presentations. 
Because of the romantic setting that CC is set in I decided to use some of the scenes as illustrations for my Zork re imagination. Oberwesel is a town on the Rhine river, A valley that is scattered with castles and interesting Bavarian locations. This proved to be a perfect setting for my Game. The youth hostel was right next to a beautiful medieval castle. I took lots of pictures and many are going to be used in my illustrations.This week has given me so much, it was a wonderfull learning experience. Becasue attending an event that i was in back in the day as a student, and now going back as a teacher. It has given me a totaly different perspective, and a interesting view on a teachers life. And also waht goes behind the scenes of such event. After this week I am very much thinking about going into teaching after University. Even if I had a hard time getting used to speaking in front of people. I am sure practice will help. After I came up with an effective process it was really easy and very enjoyable to talk in front of people about something you love. I tried not to stick with any sort of guideline and just improvised and made up the order as I go. The students were very interested and asked lots of questions.
I really hope that I can come back next year. This was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I learned so much but also gave a lot and served as a role model to many of the students.After the event was over, I had a chance to talk with some of the teachers, Wes and Mr.root even suggested that next year if things go well, I could even teach a part fot he class myself. Which I am very exited about.
