What Are You?: The Fine Art of Labels
One of my aunts called me last week, just to catch up. She asked me about my academic status (I went AWOL), and as I tried to explain my fluid situation to her, she replied:
“What are you exactly? I mean, what do I call you? What do you call what you do?”
I don’t blame her for finding it confusing to label me. After all, I was a film student for two years, then I was a painting major for three more years. To support myself, I mostly work as a writer, although I’ve accepted the occasional video work and sold a couple of paintings. Both my work and educational life are a stark contrast to what she’s experienced with her generation. After high school, they went to college, and the major they chose defined their careers.
It’s not that black and white anymore, at least not for me.
