We asked insiders and experts from various industries to tell us something they think outsiders are unaware of and we’ve shared a few of those responses below.

Pete Ortega

Since as far back as I can remember…. I always wanted to play the saxophone. Music has always been a big part of my life! Read More>> 

DubCartier

Because I respect and appreciate the freedom of expression and creativity. Being able to conceive something and manifest it is absolutely amazing. Read More>> 

Rose

I love what I do and the joy that comes from being on set isn’t like anything else for me! Similarly, sharing projects with an audience is such an honor. I’m very excited for the short film I wrote, produced, and acted in, Frosting, to play at the LA Shorts Film Festival this month! At every festival so far someone has come up to me after seeing it and shared how it’s affected them. Some say it’s “spot on” and others start tearing-up. It means so much to know I can tell a story that has an effect on people – whether they’re feeling seen, thinking about a situation in a new way, or experiencing a range of emotions. Read More>> 

Erika Winters

“I grew up in the heart of La Condesa, right across from a palm-lined avenue, in a house built in 1935. My great-aunt, who lived to be 101, remained there until her final days—an enduring presence in the home that shaped so much of who I am.” That home, with all its stories and shadows, shaped my earliest ideas of space, light, and memory. Read More>>

Yaqi Wang

For me, pursuing an artistic career was never just about performing—it has always been about building community, inspiring growth, and creating platforms for young musicians to thrive.

I earned my Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy because I believe that a strong academic foundation strengthens artistic expression and teaching. As a certified Steinway & Sons Teacher and Educational Partner, I’m committed to high-level, student-centered education in both private and group settings. Read More>> 

Chris Oak

Before going to collage, I originally wanted to be a Filmmaker, Director, and Actor working on movies. Later on when I went to collage, I studied mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State University expecting to work as an entrepreneur in the renewable energy sector. Once I graduated college, I spent 9 months applying to engineering jobs but was constantly facing rejection after rejection. It was quite overwhelming being constantly denied the opportunities to work in the filed that I got my degree in. I began to ask myself “am I really not good enough of an engineer to get hired by anyone?” By 3 months in to applying to engineering jobs, I told myself “well if they are not going to hire me, then I’m going to hire me.” Read More>> 

Diana Ponce

It took me a long time to realize that I wanted to be a performer despite always dabbling in it. I knew I loved singing from a very young age but I never loved performing. I liked singing in the car or road trips, in the shower, or basically anywhere, and despite initially being terrible at it, I never allowed for others’ opinions of it to discourage me from it.

I learned how to sing by imitating other iconic pop stars’ voices, I didn’t even take a single voice lesson until I turned 21. I just knew that I loved the arts. I loved music and the way it made me feel and how, even to this day, it’s hard for me to listen to a song and not immediately react to it by dancing or singing. Read More>> 

Marc

My father taught me at a young age to pick a career that you love doing and you’ll never work a day in your life. I was always the kid with a camcorder in his hand, recording life and my little skits and movies. When I was 17, I made a music video and sent it into MTV – they aired it. That’s when I knew this hobby was going to be my career. Prior to this revelation I thought I was going to be a marine biologist – now i just watch Shark Week instead. I think everyone’s brain is wired and excels in different areas. I can think of a million creative ideas for movies and games but I couldn’t even tell you when the War of 1812 was. I pursued what I was naturally good at. Read More>> 

Lulu Grey

I was only five years old when I saw a school production of ‘Rent,’ stood up and said, “I want to do that!” I felt a kind of magic in the idea of performing in front of an audience, unlike anything I had ever felt before. From then on, I devoted my life to performing, expressing myself through my art, and sharing what I could offer with the world. I wanted to feel that same sense of joy while performing or creating that I felt at that school play. To this day, I still feel that same euphoric feeling whenever I’m performing or creating anything, and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon! Read More>>

Stephanie Balogun

I have always had a passion and an interest in visual art. It started with a love for acting and photography, and then it morphed into a love for the art of filmmaking.

I was so intrigued by some films that I wanted to know how they were made, my interest for being in a film decreased overtime and got swallowed up by how much I wanted to be part of the process of making films. I no longer wanted to simply be in movies, I wanted to create and tell stories.
This interest is what pushed me to pursue a career in filmmaking Read More>> 

Soyeon Jenn Park

I’d say there were a bunch of factors that led me to a creative career, and honestly, this is a topic I could go on about all day, hehe. Looking back on my life journey, I think I was naturally exposed to the arts from a young age, thanks to my parents. Both of them were deeply into all kinds of art, and they would often take me to galleries to check out new exhibitions every two weeks, to musicals, and play old classic films at home.  Read More>> 

fxlln

When I was around 8 or 9 years old, my mom showed me the DVD of Michael Jackson’s Dangerous Tour in Bucharest. That’s when the magic hit. I was instantly mesmerized by every dance move, every song, the vocals, the visuals—the entire spectacle. Before long, I became what everyone around me called “Michael Junior,” learning every step, every lyric, and picturing myself on stage in front of thousands. Read More>> 

Khachatur Vasilian

I’ve loved movies since I was a kid. For as long as I can remember. Film has always been a part of my life. I grew up in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is now under occupation. There were only two movie theaters in town where you could actually watch something in comfort. And my brothers, friends, and I used to go there all the time for premieres. Read More>>

Augusto Suarez Vincenty

I remember as a kid, spending summers on the beaches of Vieques, Puerto Rico. My dad would tell me stories about creatures, ghosts and monsters emerging from the ocean, camouflaged in the trees or hidden in the shadows. Without realizing it, he was training my mind to find imaginative, fantastical stories in our ordinary world around us. Read More>> 

Joey McCarty

Ever since I picked up a guitar for the first time, I knew I wanted to pursue music as my career. Music has always been such an impactful and meaningful experience for me – which is why I felt inspired to create my own. I’ve always had the love for creating things, but when I became introduced to making music, I’ve never felt so compelled to build my own sound and brand. Not only does my passion influence me to follow this career, but I also feel as if I am leaving a piece of me out for the world to hear. In centuries from now, what will be left of you for people to remember? For me, I would hope for it to be my music. Read More>>