We asked experts from a broad range of industries to open up to us about things they know about their industry but that we probably don’t and we’ve shared some of those responses below.

AlfonSo Caballero

I’ve always loved performing. Growing up, theater in middle and high school became my sanctuary—a place where I could express myself when I didn’t have the words. I’ve always been fascinated by people, and acting gives me the chance to step into different lives, bring characters to life, and share their deeply personal experiences. Read More>>

Rubina Miranda

I’ve always felt like my late grandmother, Cory, had something to do with bringing me here, from the south of Jakarta all the way to New York. She passed in 2007, when I was in fifth grade. I was one of those kids who cried if left alone in kindergarten, so she’d wait by the classroom door until school was over. In her living room, there was an upright piano, never really tuned, and next door in the pavilion, my uncle Santo (who was a music teacher, and has since passed too) taught me my first song. I was three. It was “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” I remember thinking, I love this. That was probably the start of whatever nascent artistic instinct I’ve been chasing since. Read More>

Priyanka Chandani

When I was four, my world revolved around playing pretend. Every evening my friends and I would gather in the parking lot and play characters from one of the then-famous Hindi TV series. Our set design was the kitchen and living room sketches we had drawn on the walls of the parking lot using charcoal. Something about slipping into someone else’s world lit me up. As I grew older, I realized that wanting to be in that TV box wasn’t just a dream. It became a passion that I cannot imagine my life without.. Pursuing an artistic career has allowed me to continue doing what I’ve always loved: telling stories that move people, starting with nothing but curiosity, and sometimes… a blank wall. Read More>>

Nabi Haider Ali

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember, yet, I didn’t think it was an avenue I could explore professionally. I studied international relations for a year at UCD, but doing anything besides drawing felt excruciating. I knew at that point that I only wanted to create art for the rest of my life. I then transferred to LCAD, and the rest is history. Read More>>

Alex Henes

Art is catharsis. It’s never ending therapy. If you’re vulnerable, if you lean in, it allows you to really confront the weirdest, ugliest parts of yourself and transform them into something beautiful. Also I’m way too dumb to do anything else! Read More>>

Yuhan Wang

I’ve had trouble sleeping ever since I was a kid. To help me fall asleep, my mom would tell me all kinds of stories. They opened up a parallel universe in my head, and I think I spent a lot of time staying in there. I was into dreaming to build a fantasy world since then. Read More>>

Murphy Li

I started playing piano when I was a child, and that was my first connection to creativity. Music taught me to listen—not just to melodies, but to emotions hidden between the notes. Later, when I discovered film sound, I realized it was the same magic，using sound to shape how people feel and experience a story. Read More>>

Daryl Lao

Art is in my blood, it was a no brainer. Having a dad who’s an artist gave me a unique perspective and inspiration. I’ve been around art all my life, since I was young, I looked foward to going to tattoo conventions with my family. I couldn’t wait to finish highschool and apprentice under my dad MasterMike. I am now 21 years old and 3 years into my apprenticeship, I want to keep growing, learning and building on this legacy my dad have bestowed upon me. Read More>>