Striking out on my own for the very first time, my transfer to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas provided the laser focus I needed hone my skills and gain confidence as an artist. One of the most pivotal moments I've ever had as an artist was the life drawing class I didn't know I needed, which helped my hands (both left and right) translate what my eyes saw in a fraction of the time it had taken me. I also began flirting with graphic design, realizing that while this place sharpened me as a fine artist, I didn't feel confident that the design program at the time was what I needed to learn the trade as well as I wanted to. Being in Huntsville also helped me forge great relationships, room with my best friend in the dorms, and spend time with my Dad who lived in Huntsville at the time.