Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Jacqueline Arend

Aging is interesting and probably one of life’s greatest adventures, if you can stomach it. I have been thinking a lot lately what my younger self wanted to be. It’s hard not to go back like that and identify where things may have gone wrong. As someone who has a painful awareness of their insecurities, I have to ask why my younger self created some of these defense mechanisms. I will admit my perception of my past is subjective of course. I don’t hold anyone accountable, other than myself, for any path I landed on. Read more>>

Donii Bright

i feel like people hear im a rapper and they automatically think “clubs, drugs, Jordan ones, a lot of fake flexing, and dumb ass gimmicks used for promotion” thats not me. im not them and they are not me. im a kid learning how to be a man. i’ve been through a lot of things i dont wanna talk about personally, but i know someone else out there can relate or might be looking for a reason to keep fighting. thats what im here for. i wanna keep people from feeling like dying is the only way out. i was a nerd, i was bullied. i like video games, i love anime, i grew up on Bruce Lee and Prince, shoutsout my dad. im the grandson of an immigrant and i’ve got something to say. Read more>>

Max Martínez

Many people don’t understand why I spent all of 2021, an off-cycle election year, running versus a political dynasty for Mayor of Miami at 30 years old during a worldwide pandemic without prior government experience. The answer is simple. People make places, and cities are ever-changing canvasses continuously painted by the decisions elected officials make. As an entrepreneur, producer, athlete, and artist with a BA in Government from Cornell, I saw the role of mayor as the perfect opportunity to put my unique skillset to its best use and paint a different reality for residents of Miami by solving the root issues that have consistently plagued my hometown for decades. Read more>>

Emilee Picthall

Especially in today’s world of technology, videography is easily accessible. Just pick up your phone & post on Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, etc. As a young female videographer, I have definitely felt misunderstood. There have been many conversations that have happened over the years. The question, “What do you do?” or “Where do you work?” has been asked quite a few times. When I answer, “I own a video production company!” most of the time I get a response like, “Oh, so you make movies?” People can’t seem to wrap their heads around video needs in a normal, everyday setting. Video is EVERYWHERE, so think, who makes it? Read more>>

BABA

With all the social media mirepsentation of tattooers, people think that you must have a “specialty” ! I.e. “ he only does black n gray religious tattoos “ or “ she can only tattoo cute little tattoos” etc, but being a tattooer from 89’ I , along with everyone else from that era, I learned to tattoo everything , every style, and learned it well!! A well rounded Tattooer can do it all and do it so it last longer than the client will!! Hahaha Read more>>

Michael May

Most definitely I feel misunderstood in overall life, especially with the music I make. 9 times out of 10 most of my music comes from things I’ve been through or seen not necessarily the person I am. I will never sit and say everything was always sunshine’s and rainbows so my art sometimes comes from a hurt place even though I’m happy in life now some people cannot understand that. Read more>>

Matt Kramer

even more confusing, because we are a faith-based organization doing original theatre and media. Art and the Bible have never really mixed well, at least in most people’s minds. Over the past nine years, people have either not taken us seriously because we’re a Christian group and for some reason that means “you’re not really real”, or we have been dismissed as simply a local service (like an acting school, which we are not). Then you have people who take Christianity seriously but don’t much like the arts (and You Connection is highly creative in its presentations). Read more>>

Sulavon Bollinger

Have I or my work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? Well… that is a huge understatement from my perspective. Within 3 years of my pivoting from a successful fine art model for academics back in 2007, I was already working with massive corporate studios and conglomerates overseas, both as a talent, budding digital marketer, and an effective entrepreneur. Read more>>

Jon Chandler

I think being misunderstood and mischaracterized is part and parcel of any creative endeavor. Genres are fickle things, and those who appreciate specific genres hate it when someone they appreciate jumps from one to another. The most famous example is the uproar Bob Dylan created when he picked up an electric guitar. Folk music purists were ready to tar and feather him, but instead, he pioneered a completely new genre that combined Americana and Rock music. Read more>>