Is this my future?  In jewellery?

I’m in my second year of university and have - for months - been thinking about whether or not I should continue with the next level of my course.  Yesterday (Tuesday) I was approached by my tutor - Eimear, she asked me whether I was thinking of going onto the HND course.  I replied indecisively, mentioning that petrol is a weekly refill.  Also my job is more like work experience so I don’t get paid.  That justifies the fact that I can’t - independently - afford to keep the travels going.  At the moment my dad’s giving me money but I really don’t want to have to rely on him.  Plus I feel a little bit guilty about him giving me money, that’s besides the point though.  She found out how far and long I have to travel, to and from uni.  Let’s just say it takes me 1 to 2 hours to get there, and the same back.  Coincidentally another tutor comes from the area so she’s heard how the travelling is.  She insisted that I should apply to the higher course asking with enlightenment, “What could you do besides jewellery?”.  No answer left my mouth.  Eimear mentioned that she was shocked when she looked through the enrolment forms and mine wasn’t there.  She said I could get a grant and possibly live in Birmingham during the semesters, as an option.  Being persuaded is probably the biggest compliment I could get during university because it’s giving me the impression that maybe I could go somewhere with this.

End result?  At the end of the day I asked where I could get the form, Eimear said I needn’t fill one out, she’d tick my name off (VIP treatment or what, haha.  Only joking of course).

Today I went to work and was given a piece of paper by my manager.  It’s a flier about a competition being held.  Titled “Adventurous Moissanite” and subtitled “Charles & Colvard’s 2008 jewellery design competition”.  He thinks I should enter because it could open the doors for me.  I thought I’d give it a go.  I read about the “Professional Category” and “Student Category”, Andrew (my manager) offered to buy me the materials I needed.  *Shock* he must have a lot of faith in me because the price of precious materials is expensive.  So, during reading week (next week) I’m going to research and get some ideas.  For the “Professional Category” I have to make an “adventurous and dramatic” ring.  Should I make it as a finalist I will have to make a matching neck piece.  The “Student Category” only requires designs.  Still though, they’ll be a lot of work involved.  It’s a good confidence boost (:)), the fact that he complimented me on my abilities doesn’t hurt either :P.  It has to be said that I am a little weary because the deadlines are June/July.  It might seem a long time now…but it’ll fly by.  Especially since I’ve got projects and an exhibition for uni.  I’ll be optimistic, I’ll put all the effort and time it takes.  If all goes well I could be on my way to Hong Kong (love it there)!

I think I better ask for an entry form then.