Do you remember the moment you realized what you wanted to do professionally? Was it magic? Was it scary? We wanted to hear from some of the most talented artists and creatives in the community and so we asked them to tell us the story of the moment when they knew they were going to pursue a creative career path.

James Luker

When I was 6 years old. I got my first guitar and I started to teach myself. However, when I turned 19 and started recording professionally with my now producer and best friend Jay Bales of 7 Days Away who pushed me forward and gave me the confidence to do this full time. Read more>>

Stephanie Metzger

God works in funny ways. Growing up I was convinced I would be a whale trainer, ended up teaching Spanish in public schools, and found myself running an arts non-profit almost by accident. Read more>>

Melissa Hernandez

My journey towards a career in the music industry has been profoundly shaped by the unwavering commitment, integrity, and perseverance of my father, who emigrated from El Salvador to the United States in pursuit of a better life. Read more>>

Lok Cheang

I have been drawn to creativity for as long as I can remember, thanks to my love for animations and anime as a kid. Drawing and crafting became my favorite hobbies, and I knew early on that I wanted to do something creative for a living. Read more>>

KELLY ANN Guglietti

While in middle school, I used to write plays and TV shows with my brother. I wrote an episode for “All in the Family” and asked my mom to send it in. Read more>>

Paul Trudeau

I started playing music at an early age. It was pretty much all really cared about … and it has always been with me since as long as i can remember. Read more>>

Michael Smith-Welch

As a twelve year old I became very involved with the theater world, acting (and doing some theater tech) for a number of years, on many a stage. Read more>>

Ana Fuentes

I knew I wanted to pursue some type of creative career after leaving high school. It was never instilled in me to follow through with becoming an artist because everyone’s main worry is always money and finances. Read more>>

Vani Leon

I have always loved any thing artsy since I was a child! Whether it was painting, drawing, creating collages, jewelry making, sculpting, and many other forms of art. Read more>>

Maria Elena Cruz

Throughout my childhood, I utilize art to draw out my emotions. It would help me feel a sense of calm, and it gave me an opportunity to reflect on my life experience. Read more>>

Divine Ikpe

I have been creative ever since I was a small child. I was drawing and painting any chance I could. And when I got a little bit older, I would do creative writing and somg writing as well. Read more>>

Xotchil Martinak

I was 5 years old when I was drawn to hair and make-up. I would play with my sisters hair and do their make-up (or attempt to). And when I was 13 I became aware that it was a career… and that’s when I knew. Read more>>

Garmai Matthew

When I was 17 years old, I got my LLC for my clothing business I started in high school. Fashion has always been my first love! I would sketch long hours watching countless runway shows on the Fashion Network or obsess over The Hill’s Kelly Cutrone and Whitney Port. Read more>>

The Maraschinos

Kelly – In my mind I had no choice, there was only one thing that I really wanted to do in life, preform. Not to sound like a cheesy cheeseball, but, I knew this ever since I was born. Read more>>

Rodolfo Santamarina

I started dancing when I was in high school. When I was around 14/15 years old, and I started learning salsa. During that process I realized I wanted to learn more about dance so thanks to one of my friend in that group I began taking jazz and ballet. Read more>>

Erin Ponsonby

From a young age I knew I wanted to pursue a career within the creative industries, whether it be singing, dancing, acting or art. Read more>>

Amy Howell

It was actually during the pandemic. I have been dabbling in painting, mixed media, and photography projects over the span of my adult years. Read more>>

Caylen Cara

From a young age, surrounded by a family deeply rooted in the arts, I discovered my passion for performance. Inspired by my grandfather’s jazz piano travels and nurtured by my mother’s early voice lessons, I knew from the age of three that this was my calling. Read more>>

Daniel J. Brown

Since I have been a kid, I’ve been fascinated by the world of YouTube, expressing my creativity in various ways. I experimented in creating small skits with friends, uploading them privately for personal enjoyment. Read more>>

Sean Stynes

I remember getting handed a cd of Jimi Hendrix live at woodstock at a record store when I was a kid. I had never heard anything like it. I remember it sounding so loud and aggressive. Read more>>

Dorian Lambert

Music has always been a central part of my life, almost like a family member that’s always been there. Growing up with a mother who sang in the church choir, I was immersed in melodies and harmonies from a very young age. Read more>>

Mary M. Thames

Thank you so much for having me! Goodness, what a question to start with. I suppose I’ve always known? I remember having a conversation in college where we were discussing what we would do if it weren’t arts – and I said “there’s nothing else.” To me, it’s always been art. Read more>>

Steven Lombardo

When witnessing an entertainer at Chicago fest many years ago who was riding a giraffe unicycle while escaping a straitjacket with wild hair. Read more>>

Tina Weitz

One of my first jobs many years ago, after getting married and moving, was with a company in California that specialized in architectural advertising. Read more>>

Serena Bocchino

I grew up in an artistic environment. My mother was an artist and her mother was an artist. The home that I grew up in always had art and art books in it. Read more>>