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.

Yixin Wang

It was a surreal and unforgettable moment—seeing my face projected on the big screen for the first time at a movie theater. The short film KODAMA, in which I had the honor of starring, has been recognized as the Winner of the New York International Film Awards and the 2023 Korea International Short Film Festival, as well as the Rome Prisma Independent Film Awards. Its screening at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles marked a milestone in my acting journey. Read more>>

Kristen Kay Shea

As a child, I was a latchkey kid and often entertained myself by flipping through magazines and watching movies, replicating the hair and makeup looks I admired. That early fascination sparked my love for beauty, and I knew from a young age that I was drawn to anything involving hair and makeup. After high school, I decided to pursue my passion and enrolled at the Aveda Institute. This experience set the foundation for my career, and I spent the next eight years working with Aveda, eventually advancing into education. I loved teaching others about beauty, but my true passion was connecting with people and making them feel beautiful, especially brides on their special day. Read more>>

Leann Drake

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative, artistic path professionally at a very young age. I began doing hair when I was about eight or nine years old, braiding and styling throughout my life. While I always had a natural gift for doing hair, I initially thought I might follow other career paths. I worked various jobs and even explored nursing, but I eventually realized that hair was my true calling—it’s my gift. Read more>>

Kandyce Marie

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment that I wanted to be a creative, but it was very early on as a kid. There was something about music and acting that took me away to a place that always felt familiar. My siblings and I had very big imaginations. So much that we would choreograph our own dances, write our own songs, movie scripts, reenact scenes from our favorite movies, shows and more. We just knew we were going to be the next big thing. I was painfully shy growing up so sometimes it surprises me that I wanted to perform. I performed a few times in some elementary school plays and choirs, even did some extra work for TV. It wasn’t until Junior High that I really started finding my voice. I ended up landing spots in the school’s show choirs where we would compete against other schools in different states. I always felt like I was one of the students in Sister Act 2. :) Those are some of my favorite school memories. I also started dancing in high school where I was part of a competitive team. However, I always was brought back to music. Singing specifically. Read more>>

Ava Acres

My older sister and I attended a children’s theater camp when I was 3 years old and she was 6. I was hooked from the first moment I stepped onto the stage, and that feeling of gratitude and excitement for acting has never gone away. Soon after theatre camp, I told my parents, “I want to be like the people in the TV”. I then signed with a talent agency for on-screen acting, and I’ve been a working actor ever since. Read more>>

Sharvari Bhat

I was probably 7 years old when I had decided to become an interior designer. Something about designing spaces and decorating homes was exciting to me. Around the same time, I was also watching a lot of Indian cinema, particularly Hindi films from the 90s and early 00s. I found myself developing an interest in how a character’s space could convey and enhance their emotions. So naturally I started watching more films, paying close attention to how a set was decorated and that was basically how I became interested in pursuing an artistic path. It began with an aspiration to become a Production Designer. When I worked in the art department for theater productions, I was exposed to the other leadership roles on creative projects. I noticed that I enjoyed logistics and planning when it related to a creative endeavor. I felt passionate about assembling and coordinating all the moving parts to make a story come to life”. So that’s how I found my path towards creative producing, which is what I am currently working towards. Read more>>

Mackynsie Mckedy

Growing up in a musical family, I knew from an early age that I would play music. When my grandpa first put a fiddle in my hands at 6 years old I remember being in awe of the instrument and watching him play inspired me te keep working at it. The very first time I stepped up on a stage was at 7 years old to sing “Coal Miners Daughter” with my dad and I knew then that I liked being on the stage and I felt at home. But the moment I really knew that I wanted to seriously pursue a career in country music for the rest of my life was when I actually got to see my idol Loretta Lynn in concert at 13 years old. There was this moment when I looked around and everyone in the audience was singing along word for word to “You ain’t woman enough to take my man” that I knew that one day I wanted to look out in the audience and hear people singing my songs word for word just like they did with Loretta. I have been chasing that dream ever since and now when I’m up on stage and I see people singing back my songs to me from the audience I see my 13 year old self with her big dreams and I feel forever grateful to God, my family and my mentors for allowing that dream to come true. Read more>>

Nicholas Hall

The first time I truely knew I wanted to be an Actor for the rest of my life I was around 18 years old, I decided to audition for a short Acting course, kind of an introduction to the craft. I didn’t know what to expect going into it I just knew I found it interesting and was curious to see what it would be like. The adrenaline rush, nerves and excitement I felt instantly all at once, was unlike anything I’d ever experienced and I knew I wanted to have this feeling everyday for the rest of my life. I believe we all have our purpose and that feeling has never gone away for me. It’s the one thing I could wake up at 2AM for, no coffee needed and it all started from a curiosity and I’ve been in love with the craft ever since. Read more>>

Amanda Woods

I spent 20 years in marketing and graphic design allowing my art to be my favorite hobby. I found it too exposing to identify myself as an artist, often responding to compliments with, “Oh, I am just having fun.” My inner nag crippled me with classic questions like, “What if I never paint anything of worth?” and “What if I am not good and I am too delusional to see that I’m terrible?” So, I would simply post my painting on social media (not even mentioning it was for sale) and hope that someone would ask me to buy it and then magically I would become a great and worthy artist. After decades in marketing, you would think I would know that magic doesn’t just happen! Read more>>

Marlen Lane

I’ve always been surrounded by music. Growing up in a Christian home, my mom’s voice was a constant presence in our house—she would sing all the time, and it created an atmosphere of warmth and joy. My siblings and I all grew up with a deep love for music, but it wasn’t until I was about 13 that I began to truly step into it myself. That’s when I started singing in church and leading worship. The more I sang, the more I felt this undeniable sense that I was made for it—that music wasn’t just something I did, it was a way to connect deeper with God and to serve others. Read more>>

Nic Sommerfeld

My mom had been a professional actress in Southern California for about 10 years before she decided to move back to Montana and start a family. She took a break from all theater until I was about 3 years old, when she decided to audition for a local community theater production of Guys and Dolls. She had to change her hairstyle for the production and consequently it took some convincing from my dad that it was the same lady. (Once I realized it was my mom up on stage, however ,I wouldn’t stop pointing her out every time she came on.) Going backstage and seeing the behind the scenes theater magic cemented my love for the craft; when my mom did Chicago, she took my brother and I backstage to see the mannequin they used for the hanging so that we wouldn’t be scared when that scene happened and think that it was really happening. At 8 years old, I did my first show, The Music Man– and although I was only one of the little kids in the band at the end of the show, it solidified in me that theater was what I was going to do, what I was meant to do and what I would proceed to do forever. Read more>>

Bethanie Liu

I started music lessons at an early age as an extracurricular activity, which gradually nurtured my passion for music. Pursuing music professionally had been a secret dream of mine, but I kept it hidden for a long time. Like many of my peers at the time, I was often steered toward paths traditionally deemed “professional and elite” instead of music, with people convincing me that music is not a viable career. For many years I felt very conflicted too. I knew deep down I wanted to give my dream a try, but the constant opposition from those around me made it difficult. I also understood how volatile the music industry could be, and being completely honest, at the time I feared failure, especially if I were to take the leap to pursue the road less travelled. Read more>>

Vivian Tran

I remember the summer following my junior year of high school. I was working on a painting of my mother and father. It was the first time I’ve ever painted them and I remember crying as I painted them. Our relationship was rough. We barely spoke to each other or tried to understand how the other would feel. We were not only separated by a generational divide, but one that was linguistic and cultural. So even if I had things to say, I could not say them exactly as I wanted to. But as I spent all-nighters painting through the summer in our living room, my parents would pass by their faces before going to work everyday. Read more>>

Elizabeth Smith

I have always loved outfit styling but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I thought I could channel my passion into a career. People asked me for my input on what to wear, how to style and outfit, etc I love helping people feel good about themselves and after working with a few folks, I discovered I really enjoyed the work and wanted to pursue this work beyond it being a hobby. Read more>>

Courtney Revolution

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was when I got my first digital camera for my 12th birthday. All of my friends had Myspace profiles and showing off your creativity was just one way to show your creativity and originality. I would change my profile picture all the time, which led to me having to take lots of pictures, and then ultimately finding out that my camera recorded videos too! From that point on I recorded everything — jokes in class, mini vlogs of how I’m feeling while my mom grocery shopped, and walks to McDonald’s in the neighborhood with my girls! Read more>>

Kyle Horne

My childhood fascination with “The Simpsons,” which remains my favorite television program, ignited my interest in animation. At the age of 7, I was captivated by the characters’ movement and speech, a curiosity that has persisted throughout my life. This early exposure fostered a deep appreciation for both the artistic and technical aspects of animation, transforming a childhood wonder into a lifelong commitment to visual storytelling. It has been a rewarding journey, and I am enthusiastic about continuing to explore this field. Read more>>

Tiffany Mccray

When I was 17, I got a job at a bakery for the first time. I was hired to answer phones, help at the counter, and clean tables, but I was really soaking in as much information as I could by watching the decorators work in the back, and quickly trying to build up my skills since I had such a passion for cake decorating! However, I still had plans on pursuing a long-term career in the Social Sciences, despite being encouraged by my bosses and coworkers to utilize my talents in the pastry field. When I became a Psychology major, my thought in mind was long term stability and choosing a path that felt more traditional, but upon starting that journey I realized that It just wasn’t the right fit for me and that I was willing to find stability in a field that I truly enjoyed, even if it meant that I’d have to work even harder. Read more>>

Robin Frey

I first realized I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally in the spring of 2024, when an unexpected layoff from my long-term marketing job became a pivotal moment. For years, I had been working with preserved moss and botanicals as a side passion, and it was something that brought me immense joy and fulfillment. Faced with the prospect of returning to another 9-to-5, desk-bound marketing role, I knew it was time to take a leap of faith. That turning point gave me the push I needed to transform my side hustle into a full-fledged business, and I haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Obadiah Brown-beach

I had multiple turning points in my life when I felt a stark pull towards needing to make music. I always had at least a general interest in music, but as a teenager I felt compelled to actually start writing my own out of a need for an emotional outlet. I took the harder things in life that I didn’t quite know how to communicate effectively and put them into personal songs that I would play in my bedroom as a form of soothing myself to sleep. The teenage angst, drama, loss, loneliness, and newfound heavier emotions and questions all came out through music so I could continue to feel more emotionally regulated otherwise. At that point I started to realize how much I felt drawn to songwriting as a much-needed form of personal expression and catharsis. Read more>>

Zabeth

I grew up with an artist in the family, and have been doing art my whole life, but I didn’t get the push to pursue it as a career until after having my second daughter. After a 12 year stint in the health and fitness industry, I experienced a birth injury that shoved me out of that field and forced me to examine what I wanted to move forward with. I decided to follow my bliss and pursue art. Read more>>

Heather Arenas

When I was very young, I wanted to be an artist as many children do but it wasn’t because my parents always hung my drawings on the refrigerator. I would notice things that others didn’t and include them in my drawings. I added details like the 5th pocket on jeans or the way someone’s shoe laces were tied and lay across their shoe. My family was fairly poor so my father encouraged me to do something for a living that was more lucrative than being an artist. I had an affinity for science so medicine seemed the ‘obvious’ choice. Luckily I realized in the first year of medical school that it was not the right decision. I loved anatomy and the human body but not the other aspects of a career in medicine. I spent several years in different careers including IT and alpaca ranching in an effort to earn a living but I thrived the most when I was painting. Read more>>

Catarina Amaro

I have been pursuing mastering means of expression ever since I can remember. To find ways that enable me to reconnect with and re-experience my thoughts, sensations, and emotions, and through the process of expression, effectively share them, making them an external part of what defines my individuality. Throughout my childhood and teenage years I was incredibly sure I wanted to be an artist for the rest of my life. I used to paint, to write, to photograph, to design – always searching for more, and more meaningful means of expressing myself. Nevertheless, by the time I was 17, I was afraid I would lose interest in such important things, and get apathetic towards creating if I was obliged to do it as a demand. So I was accepted in college to study for a degree in Politics and International Relationships. Read more>>

Zoe Johnson

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally, about 6 years ago, when I was about 9 years old. Up until then, I had always been really into hip-hop dance and modeling, but something inside me told me there was more I was meant to do. I started to feel a strong pull toward singing, so I began writing songs in my room, just pouring my thoughts, feelings, and experiences into lyrics. Those songs were my way of processing everything I was going through at the time—emotions that I couldn’t always put into words otherwise. As I wrote, I would often daydream about being on stage, performing for people all over the world. I could see myself up there, the lights, the crowd, the music—it just felt like I was meant to be doing that. It was like a calling, and at that moment, I knew music was going to be my path Read more>>

Xinqian Li

The moment I knew I wanted to pursue a professional artistic path came during my teenage years, when I was mastering fingerstyle guitar. Music wasn’t just a hobby for me—it was my way of expressing emotions and telling stories without words. Winning awards in fingerstyle competitions not only validated my efforts but also showed me the power of music to connect with others on a profound level. I vividly remember one specific moment. I had just finished a solo performance at a local competition, playing an intricate piece I had spent months perfecting. The applause felt overwhelming—not because of its volume, but because I could feel the audience’s connection to the music I had created. It was then that I realized this was more than just a skill or passion. It was my calling. Read more>>

Adria Branson

I’ve always been creative. As a toddler, I’d make up songs while sitting in the grocery cart. In daycare, I organized my friends to put on weekly sketch comedy shows. When I got my first camera as a preteen, I spent hours creating and editing music videos with friends. But the moment I knew I wanted to pursue this as a career was when I directed my first play. In high school, we had a tradition of student-directed one-acts, typically directed by seniors. As a freshman, I acted in one and immediately knew I had to direct my own someday. During my junior year, I nervously asked the theater director if I could pitch a play. When he smiled and said, ‘Let’s do it,’ I felt a wave of pride and determination. I went home that night and threw myself into crafting my pitch. Read more>>

Payton Aughnay

It all started when I was just graduating high school. Throughout those years I was a bit heavier set, my confidence was low, and I had no idea what to do with myself. I was working 9 to 5 jobs in food service that didnt make me happy. Some of my relatives and friends were big into sports or already doing things like modeling and traveling, and I caught myself comparing. Once I left high school I was taking care of my body and after my appearance changed, there was nothing in the way from asking myself why I couldn’t do the same thing as my peers.  I had been taking photos of myself through my senior year and posting them online remembering to use #seniorsunday so more people would see my photos. So I started taking more. Read more>>