Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018!

 As I enter the New Year I am happy to put 2017 behind me. There have been a lot of ups and downs this past year. I am happy to say I have overcome great obstacles and I feel this New Year will be full of blessings. It has taken almost 9 years since I graduated college to finally get to Los Angeles! This has been my goal for as long as I can remember. The sacrifices my family and myself have made to support this goal have been insurmountable. Not just the support getting through art school then getting into the career path I wanted. Also just being so supportive even when I fail. Oh and I have failed this is not a glamorous journey, but one that has taught me to never quit. Follow your heart and what it’s telling you. 

I probably would not have made it this far without the support and love from my husband. He helped support me emotionally and financially while I finished school with a new baby. He has never given up on me, even when everyone else said “your crazy you will never get a job in animation”, “Don’t waste your time moving to LA”. These are the tiny voices I hear when I get discouraged and then I remember why I’m here. I’m here because I know I’m good at what I do and I love doing it!  

I have also shown support for my husband and his career goals as well. He graduated three years ago and in those three short years we have moved from Tampa, Fl to Tucson, AZ and finally Los Angeles, CA. This change in scenery has been amazing! I never knew moving from my home town would be so hard and eye opening all at the same time. It has been an incredible journey and I know this is just the beginning. I miss my friends and family terribly, but when they visit it feels so wonderful. I get to show them places they have never experienced before. Going back home to visit is great too.

Now that we have made it to LA I have attended the biggest networking expo for animation: CTNX Animation Expo. The event happens once a year in Burbank, CA. This has been my second year attending and there aren’t words to describe the amount of talent and industry knowledge that is packed into three days. This year was especially good for me. I met a lot of great contacts and I am hopeful for 2018 to bring great opportunities. I have also been attending WIA events as well. Women in Animation are a great organization, I have joined and it has open up doors for me as well.

As I sit here this New Year’s Eve getting ready to face 2018 I can’t help but feel thankful. I am thankful to be healthy and alive, I am thankful to have the roof over my head and the jobs that support us, I am thankful for the love and support from my family and friends and I am thankful for all of my loved ones even my furry babies. I am thankful for all of my prayers being answered, and there were a lot this past year! My family and friends surviving hurricane Irma, family and friends surviving California fires, moving and finding housing (it took about two months in a hotel before it happened but we love our new house) finding work, schools, doctors, etc. all these things we take for granted I am thankful for the outcome. We as a family made it happen and now that the struggles are behind us we are ready to face a new year! 

I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us 2018, bring it on!

Till next post,
​Jess Paz
 

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