To pivot or to persevere? Or more bluntly – to give up or to not to give up? This is a haunting question, a question that has ramifications far after an answer has been chosen and it’s also a question that almost everyone in our community has had to face at one time or another. How do you know when to give up and when to keep trying? 

Timothy Tristan

For me, this question has become much deeper over time. I do not think it is always about deciding whether to give up completely. Sometimes the real question is what exactly you are being asked to release, and what part of you is still meant to remain. Read More>>

Max Devereaux

Hey! I’m Max Devereaux. I’m an artist, musician, and filmmaker originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but these days you can usually find me bouncing between Southern California and Minneapolis, MN. I’ve been doing this professionally for about 15 years now, and if I had to describe my work, I’d say it’s all about staying fluid. Read More>>

Brian Tichnell

Answering this question is a lifelong journey in the making. How do I discern whether perseverance is aiding me as a person, or draining me of my resources? If you’re doing a hard workout, sometimes you have to push yourself in order to get the desired result: to be your best self…but sometimes pushing yourself leads to throwing your back out, and now you’re worse off than you were before. Read More>>

Mollie Lief

After the Eaton Fire destroyed the homes of many of my students – as well as our school, Eliot Arts Magnet in Altadena – it felt as though a heavy blanket of trauma had settled over our entire community. Read More>>

Kim Kuehn

For me, knowing whether to keep going or give up comes down to alignment, not burnout. Between working full time as an ED nurse, running a photography business, and being a mom, exhaustion is part of the territory — but exhaustion alone isn’t a sign to quit. Read More>>

Mia Saige

I think about this a lot, especially as a creative. For me, the difference comes down to where the resistance is coming from. If I’m struggling because something is challenging me, pushing me to grow, or making me uncomfortable in a way that feels productive, then I know I need to keep going. But if something consistently drains me, stifles my creativity, or pulls me away from the kind of work I want to be making, that’s usually a sign to step back or let it go. Read More>>

Andres Vasquez

Knowing whether to keep going or give up isn’t always clear in the moment. There were times when I questioned everything — financially, emotionally, and mentally. The truth is, most people don’t quit because something isn’t working. They quit because it gets uncomfortable, slow, or uncertain. Read More>>

Michael Telewiak

I feel like this is a battle that’s always going to happen, especially in the early stages of your career. The high of succeeding and having your work praised and taken seriously is what drives you to keep going. But when you hit a dry spell and it feels like the world is against you, it can be really hard to stay motivated. Read More>>

Minaal Rita

I don’t think it’s ever a clean, logical decision, especially when you’re building a life far away from home. For me, as someone who moved to another country and has been away from home for years, the question isn’t just about a job or an opportunity… It’s about identity, survival, and belief. Read More>>

GEONI

I’ve thought about giving up many times, choosing a “normal” life, the one we’re taught to follow growing up. It would definitely be easier to quit, whether it’s the first time something doesn’t work out or the hundredth. Read More>>