This is crunch-time at Portfolio Center—one more week of classes before the start of studio week, followed by critiques. Inevitably, as the quarter wraps up, students begin to panic. Not only do they question whether they’ll be able to complete their numerous, challenging projects, but, having been pushed to the breaking point, they often take the questioning even further, asking if they have what it takes—if they’re smart enough, talented enough, if they belong. As the saying goes, if I had a nickel for every time I heard…

So I share with you just such a correspondence. The note is from …more

Brice (and Design History class),

I am writing this to you but decided to share some of these thoughts as well with your classmates, as I’m sure they are finding themselves with a lot on their plate, not so unlike yourself.

My counsel to you and your class is this: When you have things that must be accomplished try to remember that for good to become great, it is about challenging yourself and persevering. You really can’t go through life, or any moment even, thinking about quitting just because tasks seem so large, or time too short. Reasoning ‘job’s too …more

A few days ago I received an email from one of my Design History students. She’s currently struggling with the questions of truth and identity—what all PC students wrestle with here, often for the first time. Rather than respond to her individually, I thought I’d “reply all”:

Dear Kelly,

How ironic that you should send this note at this moment. Here I sit, staring at the wisdom printed on the side of my Starbucks cup, The Way I See It #89: A recipe for happiness: an insatiable curiosity, a joy of discovery, quick to forgive, hold no grudges, love without condition, stay …more