I’ve got 15 days left at my job at The Martlet. Writing that down doesn’t make it any less surreal for me. It is the most bittersweet departure I’ve encountered in my life. It was with the Martlet that I was able to leave the service industry after more than 10 years of washing dishes, making sandwiches, pushing coffee and suggesting dvd rentals.

It was the first place something I created was published. It was my first paid creative job. It is where I built my confidence as an artist and a designer. It is where I learned so much not only about the work I do, but the people I work with and how I interact with them. It is where I designed my first t-shirt. 

10, 15— even 25 years from now I will look back and never forget these formative years as a creative professional. I hope it has the same lasting impact on future Martleteers.