Transcript
Anthony - 00:00
How do I even start this? I have never done this before!
Hi, my name is Anthony Russell and I am an artist and brand ambassador for the Canadian Gap Year Association, hence why I'm currently on your digital device.
I am 19 years old and I currently live and create art in Calgary, AB. So now that we know that I'm not just a random guy, well I guess I still I'm just anyways, as I was saying I am an artist and this is my studio. Yes, my studio is just my garage, but that's besides the point.
Anthony - 00:38
I'm a street artist and I primarily work with spray paint and stencils, but I don't limit myself to just this. I've done art for most of my life, but never really took it seriously until my high school art teacher said, hey start taking your art seriously.
And from then on, art has been my passion and I've been in galleries, shows and articles across Canada.
Anthony presenting on CBC News
If I suggest, do whatever you're passionate about. Whatever you wanna do, do it. If that's going to school, go to school. If you want to take that gap year, take that gap year If you feel like school isn't for you, then so be it. Like do what you want to do cause at the end of the day no one is living your life for you and you wanna be happy with your life you don't wanna live your life for other people so make sure whatever you're doing, you're doing it for you.
Anthony - 01:45
Now you're probably thinking he's probably an art major and you would be absolutely wrong, incorrect. I actually attended the University of Alberta in the program Law, Crime, and justice.
I know, I know, what a curveball, but when I was younger, I was actually fascinated in the politics of law and society with my favorite subject. Well, all those things are still true, but my idea of a career path changed, and that's why I decided to take a Gap Year, along with other reasons.
Anthony - 02:13
My first year of university was online and it was taking a huge toll on me, tuition prices were through the roof and the workload was absolutely insane. Mix that with being in a room all day and the results are, they're not the best.
So about halfway through my second semester, I decided that I was going to take a gap year, but I knew if I did it would have to be productive and it was not a time to kick back, kick my feet up and watch a Squid Game.
Anthony - 02:58
So I decided to dive deeper in my heart and since I started my gap year, I've been able to display my work in two wonderful galleries, do multiple murals and most rewarding, I've been able to teach my practice to students across Calgary.
Anthony - 03:58
All these things have changed my idea of a career path. What I thought as a successful job was things like Doctor, Lawyer, engineer etcetera.
But then I thought to myself. What is this magical career where I can do art talk about politics and teach? Then it hit me. A teacher. I realized that I didn't put the same amount of energy and effort into anything the same way I put it into teaching or art. So I guess it just sort of clicked.
Anthony - 04:32
I will be going back to school, but this time it will be for my passions instead of going for what I thought was a successful job or a career that could just provide me a large sum of money.
And if I can leave you with one piece of advice, it would be to do what you love because at the end of the day, you're the one living your life and you want to be happy with it.