Category: Life

Photography Consents Are Real



What made this experience/scenario unique was the truth behind the photo and the velocity of a key number of consecutive events. The same day I received my passing results from NCLEX-RN , received my license and found that my mugshot, cloaked in a cap and gown, was on the front page of my college’s website titled “I Succeeded at Harford”. The title was true. Yes, yes I did succeed. However, that fact that I am now viewing myself on the front of that website, (after experiencing a number of successive milestones) was just too funny and so ironic. I couldn’t stop laughing.



In today’s day and age, when you sign up for some sort of program or activity there usually is a number of documents you have to sign and consent for. Whether its an agreement or waiver, often times or none the shortest of all documents is a “photography consent” form. It will basically states that the organization may capture your photograph and use it for whatever purpose they desire. You wave rights to this photograph and it can be used for publishing, marketing or whatever purpose it may be. Speaking for myself, I’ve never had a problem with that. If they want to use my mug for their campaign, then by all means go for it. The thing about it, is you really never think twice about it. It may be that you never end up seeing it or you simply don’t expect it.

Reactions may vary, but when a colleague SMS’ed one evening with a screen shot of Harford Community College homepage, with my mug front and center I was surprised and couldn’t make sense if I was being trolled or not. Photography consents are real and so is Adobe Photoshop. So I pointed my browser to www.harford.edu to verify this myself and sure enough there I was. Honestly, I could not stop laughing. The screen shot circulated among my inner circles.

What made this experience so unique was the truth behind the photo and the velocity of a key number of events that happened all consecutively in a matter of 3 days. Never mind that I graduated from college and obtained my degree earlier that month. On Monday I sat for NCLEX-RN. On Tuesday, I accepted a job position in the new role. On Wednesday morning, I learned I passed NCLEX-RN, (a very gratifying and fulfilling feeling to say the least). Wednesday evening my license is posted which was important because it made it official. Wednesday night I learned that I was on the front page of Harford Community College’s website with the title “I succeeded at Harford”. Like I said my reaction was simply laughter.

Reactions from colleagues ranged from sarcasm -“Your famous” , to intrigument “Did you build this website?”. No I am not famous and no I did not build this website (I can develop one for your if you need). However, the on average 40,000 visitors/page impressions a month will have to put up with my graduation mugshot for the time being. Photography consents are real folks.


Ronnie Kirchner HCC Website

Source: www.harford.edu

Found the Light, at the End of the Tunnel



There is a certain psychology or piece of the human experience that correlates with the idea of pushing forward to “the Light at the end of the tunnel“. Let me explain, this is the proverbial idiomatic light, where in your working towards a goal, and the goal is near. Or the actual rays of sunlight, seen during the evacuation stage of tunnel exploration.





The associated psychologies, simply stated mentalitilies, are quite similar in the fact that your “grinding through grit” throughout the journey in this “tunnel“. Grit being defined by the everyday mundane, boring, sometimes challenging aspects that must be overcome. As you traverse treacherous conditions, with elevated risks, sometimes painful stiumuli, at times, persistent loomy underlying fear is picked up by your senses. All that must be processed, evaluated & harnessed at limbic bay, utilized as a positive stressor. And then the tunnel takes a bend, & there may be a sudden change of conditions. You begin to breath fresh venturi driven oxygen, that is evident by your mind clearing and a cold face that is dripping with sweat. Subtle indicators, that the end is near. However your perception of time altered & decelerated. The sensation of discomfort is present & accentuated by fatigue. As the exit nears, graffiti murals start to appear on the walls. Some might read, “keep going”, while others may spell out in blockbuster roller style letters, initials of “FUD” / Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Weak hands usually stop here.

A pinpoint beam of light, from the outside world meets your eyes. Torches remain lit, however the end is in sight. Your pace changes, from slow and steady to an increase rate. Still ensuring a steady foot along the way as treacherous conditions still exist. As your near your perception of time normalizes if not accelerates. And then you make it.

Your chest expands as you breath in the dense oxygen saturated air. Your head held high, your face now is basking in the sun light, as you found the end of the tunnel at last. You may or may not be able to perch on a rock somewhere, a safe spot to briefly decompress, check gear, and regroup. Regardless, only the strongest and wisest will be cognizant of the tremendous momentum that sits behind you and that your tolerance of discomfort has been raised furthermore. You realize that there are other tunnels or better known as trials, tribulations, end goals that will need to be had. Whether you harness this momentum to explore and conquer further unexplored tunnels is up to you.

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