Mimi Meier

Student

“Statistics show that photographers live longer; unlike lawyers who always deal with bad situations. Okay, I don’t mind living a longer life.”

“I love the way Mr. Battle teaches photography. He’s so animated and uses language that’s really basic,” says Mimi Meier. “He never makes students who don’t quite get it feel dumb. He’s just got this great sense of humor and nobody in his classes ever feels left behind.” Mimi has obviously found an ally in SMCs photography department, and she’s hoping to take that inspiration into a career in shooting photos.

“I plan to get my degree at SMC and then go on to assist a photographer in a professional studio,” she says. “But eventually I’d like to own my own studio where I can shoot people dressed as characters: cowboys and Indians, queens and kings. Anything to make photos bizarre and fun. I may go on to a four-year school, like Art Center,” she adds. “But ideally I’ll start off slowly and do my learning on the job.”

Mimi reports that arrival at SMC has meant a whole new approach in the way she looks at education. “I never really liked school before I got here,” she says. “I wasn’t the smartest kid in my classes and usually didn’t respond very well to all the pressure. At SMC, it’s up to you to do the work, and that’s given me a feeling of independence. I know it’s in me to do a good job, and I really like it that nobody is hovering over me. Success or failure: it’s up to me.”

Aside from SMC’s teachers, with whom Mimi has found a great willingness to help, she counts the other students here as being a very positive force. “I have a lot of good friends on campus who make me feel very comfortable about being in college. It’s not so good if you’re worrying about being alone,” she says. “And I think that in school—and in life—it’s important to have as many friends as you possibly can. There’s just not a lot of excluding or segregating going on at SMC.”

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