追夢就是人生 (English available)
三年前，我沒想過今天能夠在動畫公司工作。當時成為 Concept Artist 只是一個夢想。
大學畢業後，我拿著數學學位到社會工作。那時候初創企業是熱門話題，晉升幾會多。當時我只想找份理想收入的工作，沒想太多便入了一間國際初創公司。因為公司受歡迎，競爭很大。我有幸在一群見習生中被取錄為正式員工。這機會很難得，可是我感到很空虛。工作壓力越來越大，健康情緒也逐漸變差。我開始不禁反思：「自己付出那麼大的力氣去工作為了什麼？」
有一天，我在互聯網上偶然發現了 Concept Art 這項業，當下被它迷著了。從小我就很喜歡電影製作和創作藝術，但因為社會的環境令我選擇了理科。看到原來這世界有一種行業不單能畫畫，還能把自己的創作製成動畫電影時，我立刻感到這會是我一生的職業。
就於三年前，我辭了職，展開了自學自費的旅途，向夢想出發。
為了目標我放棄了很多以往的享受，包括朋友的聚會，購物和娛樂使費。我的儲蓄都留給畫畫器材。除了面對自學的孤獨，還要顧及家人的擔憂。當中困難重重。可是，我如夢初醒，覺得人生才剛開始。我的經歷讓我視野和思想更多元化。因為冒了個險，所以有空間讓我探索新事物，認識志趣相投的人。如果我當初不相信夢想，我便不會遇到我的 mentor，更不會成為 Actplus Studio 的繪圖師，認識了一班給我無限正能量的同事們。
最高興的，是能夠每一天做著自己熱愛的創作。自己付出、犧牲了的力氣現在有意義了。我下一個目標是希望我的作品能感化他人，跳出框框去追隨讓自己心動的事。對我來說，追夢就是人生。
Three years ago, I could not never imagine myself working at an animation studio today. Being a Concept Artist was only a dream.
After graduating with a Mathematics degree, I looked for jobs. Start-ups were popular then, competitive and dynamic. At the time, I just wanted a job that paid well, so I began working for a global start-up company. I was fortunate to be promoted to an internal staff among a group of interns very quickly, but I did not feel rewarded the way I thought it would be. If anything, I felt empty. The pressure increased as I was given more complicated tasks, and I was constantly emotionally drained. I started to doubt the worth in all this effort.
One day, I stumbled across the role ‘Concept Artist’ on the internet. I instantly fell in love with it. I’ve always loved art and filmmaking growing up, but chose to study science because the society favours it. When I discovered this career could let me draw and create, and present my works on a movie screen, I immediately knew I was going to do this for life.
With no solid experience and no money for another Art degree, I quit my job and embarked on a self-learning journey for my dream.
I’ve made sacrifices. I gave up many social events, didn’t shop for new clothes or enjoyed other entertainment activities like I used to. My savings were kept for my art tools and equipment. I faced challenges alone, and at the same time assuring my family that they could be confident in my decision.
The challenges were many, but I have never felt more alive. My horizon began to expand as I humbled myself to learn and observe. New possibilities surfaced one after another. I started to find people of the same interests, and make friends with different artists. If I hadn’t taken the first step, I wouldn’t have met my wonderful mentor, who gave me a career as an artist at Actplus Studio, and I certainly wouldn’t be working with a team that feed me endless positive energy every day.
The most rewarding of all was that I’ve found my purpose. I am fueled by the effort I put in my work. I hope to inspire people with my work, that they too can go on an adventure of discovering their dreams, and more importantly themselves. To me, my passion is my identity.