I grew up in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, where I still reside and have my studio. I first discovered an interest in clay with a pottery class I took in Jr. High School. It was just basic hand building techniques, like slab and coil work, but it was enough to plant a seed. The first time I had access to a pottery wheel, I was in High School. After the very first session on the pottersÃ?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã¢âEURžÂ¢ wheel, I was hooked! I began going every day to throw, and spent as much time as I could in the ceramics room, sometimes taking up to 4 ceramics classes a day. Working in clay became my passion. Even then, I knew I wanted to be a potter. It was a difficult time in my life and I think that is why I focused most of my energy into pottery. My senior year, I was able to take a Raku workshop, which only helped fuel my desire to keep learning and grow as an artist. I entered and won several competitions with "First Prizes" and "Best in Show" awards. I earned an art scholarship and art sponsorship before leaving school. After High School, I was not really sure what one would do to become a professional potter. There was no set rule or recipe that I had ever heard of. It wasn't like, go to college for four years, get a degree, voila you are a pro. I had ideas of going to some high priced art school at some point, but soon realized I would be in debt forever with that route. So, I called around every place in the phone book that mentioned the word Ã?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã...\"potteryÃ?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã,, looking for work. I was lucky enough to find a studio that could use my help, and I went straight to work in the field as an apprentice. At the same time, I started taking classes at the community college. After all my hard work in the class, I got a Ã?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã...\"BÃ?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã, in my only pottery class in college. I continued working for the studio, where I think I learned more simply watching, than any class could ever teach. I was able to attend shows and gained some exposure with local art guilds. I decided to try my hand at running my own pottery business. I went off to work on my own, and quickly got swallowed up in the business end of things. I soon realized that running a pottery of my own was not the same as having a pottery hobby or being an apprentice potter. For me, making pottery was fun, but it wasnÃ?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã¢âEURžÂ¢t always necessarily what people would like to buy. I didnÃ?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã¢âEURžÂ¢t think I could make a real living out of making pots. I decided to give up the pipe dream, Ã?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã...\"grow upÃ?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã, and get a Ã?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã...\"realÃ?¢ââEURšÂ¬Ã, job. Though I have seen success with other ventures, in my time away from the studio, at some point I realized there was something missing.