A big part of making decisions is determining what our actions and choices have been inspired by. So we asked decision makers from the community to tell us about what they are inspired by.

Angelica Zuenko | Aerialist, Dancer, Actor

I am inspired by the mystery of life. I am inspired by the psychology of the human mind. I am inspired by story-telling and creating something greater than myself. I am inspired by nature and spirituality. I am inspired by music and the way it prompts me to move and feel. I am inspired by strong emotions and deep conversations with friends or strangers. I am inspired by everything around me. Read more>>

Lisa Yen | Nurse Practitioner, Health Coach, Patient Advocate

Helping others Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to make a difference in the world. At the age of 16, I felt called to be a nurse. I loved working as a cardiac ICU nurse for a couple years and helping people recover after suffering a heart attack or recovering from open heart surgery. I then spent 2 months in a hospital in rural Kenya when I witnessed the challenges of accessing even the most basic medical care. This prompted me to return to school to become a nurse practitioner. I absolutely loved being a NP hospitalist. I loved being able to make a meaningful impact on those who were critically ill. Unfortunately, my world was turned upside down when my husband was suddenly and unexpectedly diagnosed with advanced neuroendocrine tumor (NET or neuroendocrine cancer). Read more>>

Kara Maria | Artist

In my current body of work, I paint carefully rendered miniature portraits of endangered animals into larger compositions to raise questions about Earth’s biodiversity crisis and the place of wildlife within increasingly unstable habitats. Swirling and exploding shapes, bright colors, representational elements, and unlikely spatial relationships in the greater painting illustrate how our progressively chaotic environment displaces fauna and the systems that support it. Elizabeth Kolbert’s 2014 book The Sixth Extinction, in which she asserts that we are now witnessing the largest mass extinction since the annihilation of the dinosaurs about sixty-six million years ago, inspired this work. Alongside images of globally endangered species, I focus on those from the US and especially those from California. Read more>>

Einjar Fabrega | Character Rigging Artist

Since I was little I developed a charm for the art of cinema in general. I spent many hours researching movies, series, among others. As time went by, I ended up falling in love with CGI and computer animation, more specifically the character rigging branch. This is because I am a big fan of bringing fantastic characters to life like Dragons, chimeras, among others. In fact, one of my favorite characters is Dobbi the elf from Harry Potter. The person in charge of bringing it to life and making it look so incredible was Laurie Brugger, a former student at Full Sail University, a university where I also studied. Laurie was also an inspiration to me because she is an artist who aspired to follow in her footsteps and be like her one day. Read more>>

Aja Terwilliger | Licensed Acupuncturist & Artist

I am inspired by people who make an effort to change things that they aren’t happy with. I am inspired by people who decide they want to do something and they don’t let challenges stand in their way. I feel inspired by people who live life unafraid and live authentically to do the things that make them happy. For my whole life I’ve wanted to travel but until I was 27. years old I always thought I didn’t have enough money or that I couldn’t take the time off work. Until I spoke to people who said, “Make the time, save your money and you can travel.” It felt impossible but despite my fear, I finally made the leap and realized it was just my mind that was standing between me and traveling. Read more>>

Al Pipkin | CEO, AOIR DISTRIBUTION

The children and my friends from my inner city project “Nickerson Gardens”. I mentor there, seeing them changing as a person for a better life is a inspiration all in its self. All I know is how to win at everything I set my mind to so I inspire my people around to think the same way like a champ! Artist like J cole, Kendrick Lamar & Lil Wayne inspired me very much growing up. I am inspired by the business mind of Prince. He opened our eyes to the business and doors for us to walk through as independents as equals with the majors. Clarence Avant has been the greatest inspiration, he accomplished things at a time when it should have been impossible. He also became a mentor and advisor for some of the biggest names and brands in the entertainment industry. He is who I emulate! Read more>>

Celes Hulsinger | Child Development Educator

At Sol Full Enrichment, our mission is to create a vibrant and inclusive community for families and children. We believe in providing a nurturing environment where children can freely express their authentic selves while also engaging in valuable learning experiences. Our goal is to give children a taste of what preschool has to offer, while also allowing parents and nannies to witness their growth from a distance. The inspiration behind Sol Full Enrichment came from recognizing the need for parents to have a firsthand understanding of their child’s development within the classroom setting. We understand the importance of quality time and the positive impact it can have on a child’s growth. Read more>>