Unless you feel absolutely compelled to donate, don’t sweat it. I’ve downloaded plenty of freebies over the years, and I consider this my chance to give back — even in such a small way.

As for needing a vector of DC, let me see what I can do. Do you need the same style as the other vector states?

… My background is in journalism and music from a major university. Online learning, much less graphic design courses, is something new to me. I am a self-taught designer, which is the main reason I am pursuing a graphic design certificate at Sessions — I want to get at least a basic foundation in design that I’ve never received.

OK, so now that you understand that bit of background, my short answer is “the school has fulfilled my expectations.” Let’s face it; this isn’t an Art Institute or SCAD or Rhode Island College for Design, or any other big-name, well-known school. But so far, it’s a very solid option if those other schools are NOT an option for you. The courses are very well structured, and the instructors are knowledgeable and offer a lot of insight.

That said, it’s totally up to you how well the school fills your expectations. If you put forth a half-hearted effort, you’ll likely feel the school isn’t worth the time or cost. That’s simply not me. I try my best to pour myself into my work. Some projects take only a few hours to complete, and others may take 40 hours or more (but that’s due to the amount of detail I try to put in my work). I take chances with things that I haven’t been able to do in my professional experience, and I look at Sessions as a place to experiment with new and different styles. When an instructor grades my work and offers his or her feedback, I want to know they are truly seeing some of my best efforts. And when I get a less-than-satisfactory grade (which thankfully has been rare!), it’s nice to be able to get good feedback and to resubmit that project for a higher grade. After all, gaining new skills, getting good feedback, and learning how to craft creative solutions are my main goals — I’m not concerned with a grade. If a project is well-designed, I want to know why my instructor likes it — and vice versa.

As far as seeing my work, just take a look through my blog, and you’ll see more examples of my school work. I try to include a decent summary or explanation of the project and my approach. Of course, if you want more detail on a particular project, leave me a message on that project page’s comment section, and I’ll be happy to answer.