Is it natural to wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a different path? Is it common? We asked many artists and creatives from all over the country if they’ve ever wondered about whether they should have pursued a more standard career path to see what we could learn from their stories.

AMÉLIA.

I moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music when I was only 18. Since I was 15, I knew I wanted to move to the U.S. to pursue my dream career as a singer-songwriter and a composer for film and TV. I was fortunate to complete a pre-college conservatory program from the age of 5 until I graduated from high school, which made it clear to me—even as a child—that music was the only path I wanted to follow. I never envisioned myself doing anything else, no matter the cost. Despite loving France with my whole heart, I knew I could only get the music education of my dreams by moving overseas. And it changed my life. Read more>>

Scott Rocco

I am both happy and grateful to be an artist. I believe we are chosen by God to create art that inspires hope, faith, and love. It’s not an easy road. There have been days of doubt about the trajectory of my creative life and wanting to settle for something regular. The uncertainty of the next gig as well as financial instability is very real to most musicians, actors, or any creative. When it happens, a traditional 9-5 job starts looking more attractive as safety. I just remember to keep moving forward. If you can pass all the tests of struggle that come into existence, you will see how strong of a person you really are. Read more>>

Ching-Shan Chang

I believe the thought of what life might have been like had we chosen a more conventional path has crossed the minds of nearly all artists at some point. We could have clocked in, worked in air-conditioned offices, performed tasks outlined in a job description, shared lighthearted conversations with colleagues during lunch breaks, and clocked out—day after day. Read more>>

Peachy

Before committing to cosplay and content full-time, I actually worked in tech for nearly ten years. I mostly worked for small software-as-a-service companies, doing everything from network administration to Web design to account management. I always did cosplay on the side — after work, and on weekends — even though it was difficult to juggle it all with a full time 9-to-5 job. After a while, it began to take a toll on my mental health and happiness. I was making good money, but stretched very thin and generally unhappy with the industry. Read more>>

Yiran Cui(Tsui)

Being an artist or a creative has felt like the only answer to me ever since I decided to apply for art school back in high school. The day I mentioned it to my mom about wanting to study art took a lot of courage, but since then, my goal has never wavered. Read more>>

Sarah Nott

I think my answer to this question may be a sort of reverse answer; technically, I am a visual artist/creative who also has a ‘regular’ job. This has led to many things; first, I have had to work actively to maintain my personal visual art practice. Because I teach full-time, unless I truly set aside time for art– as physical calendar events, even– my own creative practice gets neglected. Being a ceramicist in residence at my local art institute was very helpful in this respect, because I ‘had’ to go to the studio every day after work, and had to generate enough material for an exhibition. When we were fully locked down at the beginning of Covid, I was able to enthusiastically and continuously finish off projects that had been sitting half done for ages. Read more>>

Adarsh Satish

I am happier being an artist. It really sets my soul on fire. It makes me want to continue another day and I always have something to look forward to. The sky is the limit with how far I can take my creative endeavors. I’m excited by every new opportunity I get and the chance of meeting some incredible people. Being an artist was the greatest decision I’ve ever made. I can be myself when I’m creating and I feel fearless going into the world being my authentic self. Read more>>

Launa Dixon

I love everything I do as it pertains to performance art and art in general. I make enough to get by, but at times I am concerned about not being able to save enough or my future. I do my best and save what I can, but I regularly worry if it is enough. On the other hand, I have experienced regular jobs and they often left me feeling miserable and unfulfilled. It’s definitely not the life that I prefer. Read more>>

Whitney Gibbons

Honestly; yes! I am happier as an artist/creative, but that doesn’t mean its always easy. There are definitely moments when I wonder if I should return to the corporate world with a “regular” job- one with a clear trajectory, fewer risks, and a consistent paycheck. Read more>>

Jason Humphrey

I am happy to be an artist, as it was my destiny all of my life.
I drew as a kid, I would draw in class at school. I never played sports as a kid, I would sit in my room and read books, and draw. Art was always at the forefront of my life, but I never thought about it being a career.
When I was dating my wife, I told her one day that I knew how to draw. She didn’t believe me, so I grabbed a pen and drew Batman. She was amazed, and from that point on, she made small strides to get me to create. Read more>>

Roni Nicole

I’m happiest when I’m fully immersed in creative work that allows me to connect with others, shift energy, and tell stories that matter. Being an artist and creative is not just what I do—it’s who I am. That said, I’d be lying if I said I never thought about what it might feel like to have a “regular” job—something stable, with predictable hours and a steady paycheck. Read more>>

Francisco Azua

I love being an artist, is something i’ve been doing since i was a kid. I wanted to be an artist , i just didn’t know how to make money and live from it. I had alot of jobs coming up and really put my mind in perspective of how i wanted to approach my art career. It really made me appreciate my career and how not to go back to square one. I put all my effort now as a tattoo artist and a painter. Im always drawing and painting now, even when i have slow days. I rather put all my effort on something i love than something that i dont. It was really a leap of faith when i started on my career 4 years ago. I am now a top award winning tattoo artist in Houston. Read more>>

Julia Relova

I actually do have another job—I work as the Chapter Health Program Manager at Naturally Network, a national nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs in the natural products industry. It’s a role that asks a lot of me in terms of strategic thinking, community building, and emotional intelligence. And interestingly, it’s made me a stronger, more intentional artist. Read more>>