We asked some of the most creative folks we know to open up to us about why they chose a creative career path. Check out their responses below.

Heidi Lepe

I am pursuing a creative career to give myself a chance to do the things I love and what has felt most true to me. I grew up thinking a path in the arts and creative scene was unattainable and unrealistic for girls like me. Immigrant families are conditioned to think “success” looks one or two ways—sometimes as a doctor or lawyer, so every other vocation is discouraged, especially when you are prioritizing financial stability for you and your family in times of crisis and need. Read More>>

Megan Dolan

I’ve always loved this quote by Howard Thurman, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go and do it because the world needs people who have come alive.” As as young child, I loved around the living room to Neil Diamond songs or memorizing the lyrics from West Side Story. Read More>>

Helena Ku Rhee

It’s been my lifelong dream to be a published author, but I resisted pursuing a writing career for a very long time. I grew up in an immigrant family, where the unmistakable message was that artistic endeavors will lead to poverty, whereas a traditional career in law, medicine or finance will justify all the sacrifices my parents made (working so hard at menial jobs, not taking vacations, saving for our future, etc). Read More>>

Yimeng Wang

Hi everyone, my name is Yimeng. I’m an animator based in New York, currently studying animation at NYU. Over the past few years, I’ve contributed to a variety of projects, from indie short films to industry-level productions. Read More>>

Weijing Wang

I like stories and telling stories in ways beyond words. Read More>>

Andrenaye Brown

I pursued an artistic career because anime ignited my passion for art back in high school. Its captivating storytelling, vibrant visuals, and unique character designs inspired me to want to be apart of that creative world. As I developed my own style, I realized I didn’t just want to share my designs—I wanted to inspire others through them. Read More>>

Danika Whitsett

I pursued a creative career because I knew that I didn’t want to purse a 9-5 or a ‘normal’ job pretty early on. I always wanted to create, to talk to my followers or friends, to make content, and I’ve never NOT shied away from the norm. I love creating and being myself and showing the world who I am! Read More>>

Aaron W. Bennett

I moved here from Washington State in the fall of 2018 to write on a comedy series. One of the four EPs embezzled the entire budget and went on the run from the feds. True story! So, now I’m unemployed in LA without a literary agent and no established connections as a writer. Within a few days I had fallen back on my dad’s training in construction, except on film sets. Read More>>

Adrien Prevost

From the my earliest memories I remember my parents and sister playing music around me. I remember joining them later on. That was very natural, and I didn’t know anything else so music and gathering of artist communities always have been organic to me. Read More>>

Chantal Dodson

I’ve always loved flowers. They brought me a lot of joy and peacefulness. There is something magical about flowers. They make people happy, sometimes at the worst time, and that’s a beautiful gift. Read More>>

Justin Tecson

I chose to pursue an artistic career because I desired to become a full-time artist, specializing in portraits and coins with classical and traditional art techniques. Read More>>

Kaylei Hall

I decided to pursue I career surrounding art because from a young age I loved to draw, paint, and write. I was always a visual learner so for me art was something I was able to understand without too much explanation. Learning about the different art styles & artists & even the different aspects that make up art is something I’ve always really loved. Read More>>

Paul Haney

Music has been my biggest passion since I can remember, so I think it was inevitable that I would find a way to participate within that world in one way or another. As far as it being a career, I haven’t found a way to sustain myself financially through my music, curation, or DJing, but that doesn’t necessarily bother me since I’m allowed uncompromised freedom in expressing myself through my work. Ideally, I’d be able to work on my creative endeavors as my “day job,” Read More>>

Daniel Segrove

I spent much of my young life escaping into my creativity and daydreaming about living a life full of art. I would often draw in class and look at famous artworks. I would take every art class I had the opportunity to take. Pursuing art as a career never felt like a choice but just the natural progression of my life. I don’t think of art as a career path but instead the pursuit of living a life full of creativity. Read More>>

Sonya Saturday

There’s something inside of me that forces me to create. I have this desire to interpret the world around me through my art and my humor and my individual sensibilities. I have this need to put work out into the world, and for me to see it, to help me make sense of what’s around me. Read More>>

Josh “jg” Germain

From a very young age, I’ve always enjoyed putting on performances with my family and having to create characters that people can relate with and find themselves in. Whether it’s acting, modeling, or whatever creative endeavor I’m working at the moment, I truly have to feel like I’m doing my life‘s purpose, and adding value to people’s lives. Read More>>

Paolo Laskero

It never really felt like an option for me. Of course it was, I had a very privileged upbringing and had every opportunity to choose something more stable. But I started acting young, and I could never imagine doing anything but telling stories. I didn’t always know what that would look like (and still don’t sometimes), but it never felt like there was any other path for me. Read More>>

Judge Kane

I didn’t. For several years. But I eventually chose life. And finally worked up the nerve to share my poetry and music + start making videos about the law. I’ve been a venture backed legal tech startup founder for 10+ years, working to make the legal system more fair…  Read More>>

Ellalise Cheri

My name is Ellalise Cheri, I am a 20 year old female who grew up and resides in California. The majority of my life was spent in a ballet studio and on a stage. I danced from the age of 7, and to a professional level in ballet. I danced an average of 4-6 hours a day, 7 days a week. Read More>>

Billy Thompson

I’ve always been a creative person, it’s just part of who I am. When I was little, my parents would have to buy me canvases and paints just to stop me from drawing on the walls! It was something that came naturally to me, and I loved it. I went to an arts middle school, spent a lot of my free time at galleries, and even took part in extracurriculars at local art studios. Read More>>

Alya

Music has always been my way of expressing myself to the world. I was drawn to music because it allowed me to communicate emotions and stories that go beyond words. Creativity isn’t just about making something beautiful, it’s about connection, transformation, and giving voice to feelings and experiences that might otherwise be overlooked. Read More>>

Raquel Woodruff

Because it’s fun! And freeing and fulfilling and collaborative. The real currency of life is time, and I want to have fun the rest of my life! I want my weekdays just as exciting as my weekends. And that’s certainly a privilege – but even on the flip side, it makes the hardships of this career a lot more tolerable. Read More>>

Elizabeth Uribe

My pursuit of a creative career came from my curiosity of performance arts in high. I was amazed by the shows the theatre teacher and students produced that I got involved. I started assisting as stage crew then to being a dancer for the musical productions, and later joined the after-school salsa class. Looking back, I believe the arts found me because, as a kid, I remember always doing something creative or being surrounded by the arts. Read More>>

Denis Zemtsov

I can’t imagine doing anything else. I was always following my creative side. I’m a cinematographer in motion pictures, and I love being in the middle of the action surrounded by creatives. Helping tell stories that actually mean something. Read More>>

Álvaro Núñez Secchi

It wasn’t a straight path for me. I actually studied business and even dentistry before finally choosing film. For a while, I tried to follow what seemed like a more ‘practical’ career, but deep down, storytelling was always what truly fascinated me. Read More>>

Eric Larner

There are several reasons I decided to pursue a creative career. The first, and probably simplest reason, is that I enjoy it. I always loved to read anything I could get my hands on from books to comics. When I was about ten years old, I had an assignment in school to write a fiction short story. I had never written anything “for fun” before and, honestly, I was really intimidated at the idea of writing whatever I wanted. That was when Paperman was born. Read More>>

Carolina Antonyan

I pursued a creative career because creativity has always been the foundation of who I am. From a young age, I was drawn to the beauty of storytelling through design, color, and atmosphere. I pursued a career as a wedding planner and designer because it allows me to blend my eye for design with emotion, crafting unique experiences that are not only visually stunning but deeply meaningful. Read More>>

Melissa Termini

I decided to pursue an artistic career because of the impact art has had on me personally. In high school, art class was a peaceful place to breakaway from anxieties to hone a craft that developed perseverance, confidence, and contemplation. Since then, I have found that the benefits of creating art reach beyond the studio, influencing both my life and the lives of others. Read More>>

Liana Islamgareeva

Before photography, I explored different fields, constantly seeking something new. My main occupation was in sales across various industries, but even there, I was unconsciously connected to photography and creativity. On different projects, I often had to take photos or shoot videos. Read More>>

Honeyberrydrip

I pursued an artistic career because creativity has always been an essential part of who I am. From a young age, I found solace and excitement in expressing myself through art. The ability to transform emotions, ideas, and experiences into something tangible that others can relate to or be inspired by felt incredibly powerful. Read More>>

Miguel Garcia

I don’t really like talking about personal issues but for some reason I don’t mind doing it through song so I started creating music as a hobby to express myself. Read More>>

Ryan Luis Fuller

I first realized my love for filmmaking in middle school with the realization that most independent films I had been watching online were not playing in my local movie theaters. There are so many stories that are not told by the mainstream media that are still never or barely being shown. Read More>>

Lauryn Ford

i’ve always been drawn to the arts; my mother says I was singing before I could talk and dancing before I could fully walk. Creativity has been a fundamental part of who I am for as long as I can remember. I had my first performance was at the age of five, and from that moment, I fell in love with the stage. Read More>>