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Fourth Time Charm: Lesley Davidson

This is a guest post from our friend and respected art coach Lezley Davidson. Visit her website for some of the .


After 4 attempts, Mei was accepted into the Sheridan's Animation program.

If you didn't already know - THIS. THIS IS A VERY BIG BUSINESS.

Sheridan's animation program has been referred to as the "Harvard of Animation" and is highly competitive for admission. Every year, 2500 people apply. Approximately 120 people - what kind of math is that? Less than 5% accepted. Very good entry chances. That is what makes this story so valuable.

Everyone at work (Mei is one of my employees) knew she was working on her portfolio to apply to Sheridan Animation…again. Each of us at one time or another encouraged her to try something new.

I suggested illustration, or (based on her passions) fashion design, or set design, or costume design. I actively persuaded her to abandon the animation program.

My reason was that I didn't want to see her get frustrated or throw herself over and over again at a brick wall that would never move for her. My idea was for her to try something that would have the best odds.

May listened respectfully over and over again when I offered my 2 cents. She would agree that these are good scores and worthy of consideration, but she was committed to the animation program.

May believed that Sheridan Animation was the best program to teach her the necessary skills and give her the best opportunity to achieve her artistic career goals.

Nothing else was good enough, thank you very much. End of story.

And she was right.

I was taught a powerful, valuable, and undeniable life lesson by a 21-year-old:

  • Never give up.
  • Focus.
  • If you are determined and work hard, you will get what you want.
  • Don't listen to anyone else, even if they only mean good things.
  • Believe in yourself and your reasons to move forward, even against the odds.
  • Try again.
  • Even when you fail. Try again.
  • Get up. Try again.
  • Yes, it's awkward. Please try again anyway.

I would have given up before May. I'd accept that I couldn't and take the animation somewhere else or take a different path, a path with less resistance.

I see May and my reaction to her story, and only now I understand:

The momentary sting of failure is fleeting. The sting that remains is when we let fear make us small and stop us from even trying. 

Looking back at our lives, rejection fades, dims, and becomes unimportant.

What we remember are the moments when we walked towards our dream, showed perseverance, believed in ourselves ... and won.

For more tips on overcoming the fears you face as an artist, see the "."