When I graduated in 2006 from The Art Institutes International MN, I was in need of a portfolio. As I held off on buying one until almost the bitter end, I knew I wanted something that wasn’t black and wrapped in leather. Looking around my classroom, everyone had a over sized square that looked as though they were walking around with a giant sensor bar. It was as though it was halting their progress. If it was held by their side, it was blocking their legs. They were not moving, they were black boxes walking the halls. If it was in their arms, it stopped all progress by controlling their arms. I needed something better.
Being the creative thinker that I am, I went to Penco. You know the place, the over priced store around the corner where all the really cool/rich artists go. Intimidating to say the least. I looked and I looked and I was caked in black, square, boring boxes. I dug a little deeper, then a little deeper. Then there, like the champion 18 point buck it was, came a gleaming blaze orange, rectangular, glorious folio. It was calling my name!!
Sure it was more than the black boxes, yes it wasn’t the norm, but I’m not the norm. After finding this glorious blaze orange plexiglass folio, I knew its name would never be portfolio.
Happy with my buy, I wanted to keep it a secret. I didn’t want the idea suckers in my room to come near my new precious!! I covered it, I kept it secret, I tried, I really did! Then, my professor caught its eye. As my face hit the desk, he lifted my beauty up over his head and announced to the class that this, is what creative is. Jaws hit the floor, the air in the room being sucked up by all the gasps. My cover has been blown.
Every time I look at my folio that’s now 7 years old, I admire my work from when I was in school. I am looking forward to treating my folio to new ideas. Knowing that it won’t happen over night, but I’m hopeful.
lindsaykokoska 
I liked this post. I had a photography teacher once come into a class I had with a different instructor and announce to everyone that I was an “amazing street photographer.” I was like WTF? Now everyone in class is going to hate me! Talk about putting unnecessary pressure on somebody. It made me push harder the whole semester.