As a young teen from Hawaii, picture-perfect backdrops were literally my backyard when it came to photography. As I began to learn photography through my middle school media classes I learned the simple things like aperture and exposure, but as time went on I wanted to learn outside the classroom. Now I am getting paid for my hobby and passion of making documentaries and films, but I still strive to learn more about this complex art form. That is why I am here at the University of Colorado Boulder. I’m learning about how to tell stories through film and learning more about the art form to better myself as an artist. Throughout the course Critical Media Practices 1400 I have learned a variety of topics, but using my thinking more complex about creating media is my most valuable takeaway.