Darcie Thom, Citizen Staff

It’s kinda funny, really, when I open my eyes in the morning and still can’t believe what I am doing on a day to day basis. Most people have a dream. I had a dream all thanks to my best friend, my Grandpa.

For every moment that I spent with him, he always pushed me to follow my dreams. He would tell me that I had the strength to pursue anything that my heart desired, even when I told him that I wanted to be a photographer/journalist. When everyone else doubted my decision, he stood strong beside me and kept on pushing.

My dream first came true when he handed me a ragged cardboard box filled with some kinda junk

that I thought he had found in the shed. He told me not to look at the aged items as junk, but to see them with a different perspective. As I opened the box I couldn’t help but feel like my dreams were one step closer. He had a wide collection of antique cameras that belonged to him and Grandma, to his father and grandfather. I soon found out that I was not the first Thom to have this dream of photography and press, he too wanted to be a photographer but failed to commit to his dream.

Don’t get me wrong, I know in my heart that Grandpa succeeded at everything he did. He was a strong and willful man with no time to pursue his own happiness. He literally worked day and night to provide for his family and never second-guessed his determination to keep pushing forward. But when he was older without his kids and wife, he soon realized that he was never given the opportunity to experience one moment of his dream.

That is why he kept pushing me forward.

I was enrolled into a Vocational High School that opened every door to my dreams. I experienced three overwhelming years of Photography, realizing that I wasn’t all that in tune with portraiture but found my calling in black and white still-life and dead-nature photography. I had opportunities to learn Graphic Arts and Advertising Arts as well. The courses were a family of learning tools for the vocational students to best learn and understand every process of the advertising world. It was an awesome experience.

I also had the privilege to have my best friend learn with me. He was once a visitor to my class, he modeled and he learned technique, which, to be honest, lacked in some places. But we had a great time. It was one of the special moments that he and I got to share that stand out of the so many that occurred.

After I graduated and earned my certificate of photography, I quickly learned how hard it was to get a job in that field. Of course, wherever I applied, I was told that I needed five years experience, a secondary course or a former employer that could vouch for my portfolio. Isn’t that the way though, how does one gain experience when they need experience first?!

When I lost my hero, my best friend, I soon felt the urge to give up on my dream. I also had children that needed me, a lifestyle that didn’t welcome photography, at least the studio kind.

Sure, I took some snapshots of the kids and family through the years, but not until last year did that dream come back to life.

I found a home to settle down in and raise my growing boys. It just happened to have a hidden darkroom, just what I needed to bite me in the rear and get me pushing forward once again.

I was lucky (there’s a first time for everything) to be hired to a group of people who are willing to let me live out my dream. Once again I am pushing forward and this time, I don’t want to look back and ask myself those questions of regret. Even if I only live this dream for a moment, my dream has still been met and I will never have to ask those dreadful questions.