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My Fancy Piece of Paper | {audreygracephoto}

Are you ready for this very exciting news??! Ready or not…
I have now officially graduated college with my Associates Degree in Commercial Photography!  *happy dance*

To get the complete story & feeling of joy that I have,  let me tell you a little bit about this college journey of mine. A sort of testimony of how cool God has been in my life.

Once upon a time…

When I was in highschool, I wanted to go to college for photography. Well, actually I wanted to go to school for photography since I could remember. Anyways, thus began my college search.

I began looking at schools and applying to colleges (even having to write admission essays and put together a portfolio, ugh).

At that time I was believing God that I would be able to go to college and not have any student loans. Basically I was believing God to provide a way for me to go to college for free. And of course that was right about the time of the major “economy crash”.

When I was looking at art schools I was curious about how in the world I was going to pay for tuition. You know its expensive when financial aid doesn’t tell you how much tuition is until you agree to go to school there. True story.

I recall taking to my guitar teacher, Mr Paige Garwood, about how his daughter was set on going to school for free. This was before I applied to schools . It was encouraging to hear that his daughter believed God to provide a way for her to go to school, and she did.

So I began to have the same mind-set. I wanted to go to school for photography, not be in debt and earn my Associates Degree.

After much debate, I started classes at North Georgia Technical College. It was a hard decision for me to go there. You see, I had to turn down a scholarship from The Art Institute of Atlanta where in order for me to obtain my associates degree from there, I would still have to take out a $40,000 student loan. Talk about a gut-wrenching feeling.  No thank you.

While I was going to NGTC, the school then got approved to offer the very same associates degree. The same thing!!!

My tuition was completely covered by scholarship. Even living in the dorms there was paid by a grant.

I don’t know about you….but that just blows my mind.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

God most definitely gave me the desires of my heart!

After all of the contact sheets, lab hours, critiques, Erin London shoots, field trips and underwater basket weaving…I met some amazing photographers and have learned from the best!

Sometimes the most important things you learn are not taught in books but by experience and by the people you surround yourself with.

If you are interested in going to NGTC for photography, or you are curious about the things I learned, just take a look here.

SO dream BIG!!! Never let anyone tell you different or that you are too young. Believe me….I have heard that one too much.

I want my life to be a testament to how great God is. Even in the small things like going to college.

– Audrey Grace

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