Richard Duff

My name is Richard Duff I grew up in from Norwich, Connecticut and graduated from Norwich Free Academy with honors. While there I took part in the marching, jazz, and concert bands playing trumpet. I also occasionally played taps in the honor guard at military funerals and I am a son of a Veteran who takes part in AMVETS. When I was younger I would also go with my dad to the veteran’s hospital to visit the veterans who were staying there. We would often run bingo games, serve food, and during Christmas time we would hand out care packages. It was a great honor and humbling experience where I met some amazing people. I also took part in Martial Arts and reached the third degree black belt.

I then moved up north to Thompson then Danielson where I started working for Walmart and have been working there since 2006. I have worked in several departments, such as cashier, photo and currently electronics. But even with the extended hours that I work, finances are still difficult. That is why I am continuing my education; to do what I love and find a more stable career.

I also have been going to QVCC part time and have been on the Dean’s List every semester since I began in 2009. I have especially excelled in math and I went all through calculus and differential equations. I also was recommended for the Engineering program. However it is not something I wish to pursue, as I found that I wish to pursue a field in art.

I am aware that art isn’t the easiest field to be successful in. To bridge between what would support me financially and what would fulfill me personally, I plan to study both digital arts and computer science. More specifically, I plan to go to Eastern Connecticut State University to major in one of the newer degree programs called New Media Studies. This degree focuses on the interdisciplinary fields of different media and communications. I plan to take more of a visual arts focus in that degree while also minoring in computer science. My goal is to gain both technical and aesthetic skill which I hope will help my art to stand out from among others. With these skills I stand a broader chance of getting into a variety of careers such as graphic arts, game design, advertising, web design and development, or as a programming.