Christian Carranza
Animation and Computer Science Major
Fall 2024

During the process of selecting colleges and declaring majors, my mindset was fixated on becoming either an engineer with some type of engineering degree or a doctor on a pre-med track with a focus on biochemistry. Those two jobs and majors were the norm for my school because I chose to go to an all-boy catholic preparatory high school. Unfortunately, by going to a preparatory high school I lost my sense of creativity and imagination until my senior year. That summer of 2019, I was going through my decision process and came up with an important realization that became crucial to who I am today. “What is the one thing that makes you driven and excited?” I had to think for a second and realized that this whole time it’s been art. Ever since I painted my first painting, the process was timeless to me, and the results got me jumping out of my chair. At that very moment, I knew I wanted to pursue art, but the question was: rather than just painting, how can I make my art more intricate and interesting to my audience? Putting myself at a ton of risk, with no digital experience, and walking through an unknown portal, I figured I’d major in animation.

With no prior digital experience and only traditional knowledge, I was terrified of my competition. That was until after taking major classes and completing my first and second years at UTampa. Right off the bat, I was put into Digital Media and 3D Animation. Both classes taught me a work ethic of patience, determination, and drive. I was getting hands-on experience with the software that soon guided my skills to enhance. There were definitely times where I wanted to throw the laptop out of my dorm window, but thankfully I didn’t and I learned that with a little bit of patience, the result can turn out to be amazing. My Professor Santiago Echeverry inspired me to push myself in my work, especially in our canvas coding assignment. Which eventually lead me to love Computer Science after my first year. I added a second degree in Computer Science on top of my Animation degree. When I took Creative Coding and Computer Science 101, there were two professors that solidified my choice in my majors: Dr. Lori Jacques and as said above Professor Santiago Echeverry. Both professors kept me motivated to produce work with high quality as well as explaining that portraying my personality in my work exercises originality and pure creativity.

Painting is in my blood, and I feel the rhythm flow as time passes. I talk about this feeling because when I’m creating an animation, coding a program, or even 3D modeling; I still feel the passion and excitement as I do with painting. The confidence that I’ve built throughout my time here has allowed my skills in 3D softwares, and JavaScript to flourish. I enjoy these things because I feel comfortable around them as if they are an extension of my body. Of course, I’m going to find challenges along the way such as syntax errors in code and technical errors in animation. Yes, I have weaknesses in certain areas such as resolving issues with the render, fixing the topology, or especially biting off more than I can chew. But that’s what makes me who I am, I choose to dig myself out and move on to the next big project because the unknown gets me to where I’m happiest and it’s also good to fail in my eyes. There is an enormous amount of artists that bring their imagination to life. Through practice, toying around with new software, and learning from other artists: one day I aspire to be working at the industry standard level.

After I graduate, I plan to either begin my career as a technical artist, a freelancer 3D artist, or a software engineer. However, I still want to stay in touch with my artistic background and paint on the side as a hobby. I’ve always made my major goal to incorporate rising technology with 3D art and establish a studio that produces high-quality stories that relate with the audience as well as for them to participate alongside the work I create. To look long term, I would want to be able to present creations to others around the world.