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.

Crystal Alexis

I fell in love with art when I was a little girl, and it started with the performing arts. I was quite young the first time I watched a ballet performance of “The Nutcracker” on TV, and seeing the way the dancers moved immediately sparked something deep inside my soul. From that moment on, all I wanted to do was recreate that magical spark through my own physical body. Read more>>

Maryam Salk

From a young age, I’ve always known that I didn’t aspire to pursue a traditional career path. My heart was drawn to the art world, particularly painting, fashion, and design. When I was young, I was lucky enough to have the privilege of traveling and experiencing diverse, incredible works of art firsthand. In particular, seeing the works of Matisse and Picasso as a child sparked a creative fire within me. As I got older, I never lost that spark and committed myself to living and working as an artist. Read more>>

Anna Goryacheva

I started my music journey at the age of seven in Kaliningrad, a beautiful town on the Baltic Sea in Europe, at the Special Music School for talented kids. By the time I was nine, I had my first orchestra performance during a tour in Hungary. After that, I played as a soloist with orchestras all over Europe. These experiences, along with meeting famous people in the artistic world, inspired me to pursue a career in music. Read more>>

David Malek

When your hobby becomes a passion and consumes you, that’s the moment you know you’ve found your purpose in life. That’s exactly what happened to me. Every waking hour was spent thinking and practicing magic. Read more>>

Carolyn Mason

I feel like my creative journey did not follow a traditional path. I was in my 30’s working in fundraising at the San Francisco Opera. My favorite thing to do at work was to visit the costume shop and see all the lush and gorgeous materials and watch how they hand-dyed their fabrics. I was like a kid in the candy store. It didn’t take long to realize that I wanted to be on the creative side of things. Read more>>

Malachi Moore

For as long as I can remember, there has always been an inclination to live out my creative pursuits as an artist. Even now, looking back to my childhood, what came across as a reserved…somewhat eccentric personality was a byproduct of how much I struggled to see and explain myself. I grew up in a lot of separate communities that exposed me to different cultures and values — the good, the bad, and the grey — and it made me very curious. I was anxious to understand myself better; to see how and where I fit in the world. In that right, I’ve always been stubborn with my intentions but lacked the confidence to take on such a self-regarding task. Read more>>

Adeline Um

I have always been a creative person; initially I was enrolled as a pre-professional dancer with the Boston Ballet and in my later teenage years, I found greater purpose in my music. I was a really shy kid growing up, often time during ballet performances my anxiety would take over and I would freeze like a deer in headlights. I still have anxiety dreams about that now. Music was the opposite for me, rather than freezing in fear, it empowered me to come out of my shell. It has always been a safe space for me to grow, create, and connect with others. Read more>>

Queen Maya L

I remember so vividly the day I said to myself, “I’m going to be a singer,” I was eight years old, standing in front of my grandmother’s house full of determination. I made it my mission to practice. I started having “concerts” on my front steps. I sang every single day and practiced my dance steps in front of the mirror. Little did I know was how much this would pay off much less prepare me for a career in education. Read more>>

Noemi Lopez

My passion for filmmaking has been ingrained in me from a very early age. I was introduced to the world of cinema when my father would take me to film sets in Mexico, where I had the unique opportunity to make my debut as an extra in a music video at the tender age of three. The art of filmmaking runs deeply within my family, and these formative experiences allowed me to witness the intricate workings behind the scenes, from the collaborative efforts of numerous individuals to the culinary extravagance on set. Read more>>

Asia E. Marche

Growing up in a single-parent household as an only child, I found comfort in the world of art, long before I could fully understand its profound impact. Those early years were spent in the company of books, television, and movies, when I wasn’t in the company of friends and cousins. I feel like I spent more time in solitary reflection than I did with others as an only child. In my unique upbringing, I was one of those children who grew up faster than most, learning essential survival skills at a young age. My mother, with unwavering determination, instilled in me the importance of a stable foundation, both mentally and economically. She had faced her own share of challenges and disappointments in life, and she was determined to shield me from similar trials. Read more>>

Sarah Fye

Basically, I came out of the womb singing and dancing. Even at three years old, I used to twirl around in the kitchen in a pair of pink patent leather shoes, joyfully exclaiming, “I want to be a ballerina, mommy!” I don’t know that I actually wanted to be a ballerina, per se, but I knew I wanted to be on stage performing for people. My mom was doing her friend a favor by picking up her daughter from dance class one fateful evening, when I jumped in line with the class and began dancing with them in perfect time. It was a five year old class, and the teacher said she never allowed anyone under five, but that I “clearly had a talent and a drive” so she let me join the other joyful kiddos, even though I was technically “under age”. Read more>>

Brandon Edralin

I first knew I wanted to pursue this path is when I was a child. I started when I was like 3 years old, and it’s been a big dream of mine ever since. I went to tons of concerts around that age growing up and thought it was the coolest thing ever seeing the performers going up there singing to a huge crowd. I enjoyed every second of every show I went to also knew the words to the songs. That’s when I wanted to become a singer. songwriter, and musician. I love writing poems and songs in school as well cause it’s like therapy when you’re down, happy, or depending on how you feel. I’m sure everyone can relate to that as well. Read more>>

RODRIGO PEDROSA

“After a ten-year therapy process, I realized that I was born to be an artist and that art is fundamental for my mental and physical balance as a result. I spent over 40 years completely detached from the world of art until I fully immersed myself in this profession. Today, I am professionally fulfilled. There were many years of mental blockage that could only be resolved through therapy. That’s why I am very grateful to my therapist Carlos Eduardo Leal and to my wife Ana, who always supported me in this transition.” Read more>>

BethAnne Garcia

When you are an artist, it is hard to escape the drive to create. I knew in high school that art would always be part of my life, but I was not sure how. While I don’t make a full-time living as an artist, I consider it a success that I am able to be a stay-at-home mom and create while my kids are at school. Over time, I’ve built up my portfolio and a little business for myself (www.bethstreefarm.com). Before committing to my craft, I always knew there was something missing. Painting allows me to give back to myself, and share joy with the world. Read more>>

Kim McVicar

I am a comedian and former professional dancer (emphasis on former) originally from Canada. I have two standup specials currently out with a third on the way, Kim McVicar: Female Comedian. You can hear my jokes regularly on SirusXM, She’s So Funny, RawDog, Spotify and more. I would say that I have been performing a form of comedy since the age of 5 when she was on Tiny Talent Time (Canada’s Star Search) and yelled “Don’t worry Mom I knew enough to lie for you.” Read more>>