Everyday, somewhere, there is an aspiring artist or creative daydreaming about pursing their creative career full time. Everyday, there are countless creatives thinking about whether to pursue their passion more seriously and so we wanted to hear from folks who’ve made the leap. We asked them to reflect on if they wish they had started sooner or if they feel they would have been better off if they had waited a bit longer.

Camille Jones

I used to wish that I started cosmetology earlier, but when I think about it, I feel like my life now would be completely different. It’s interesting how our choices, whether made early or later in life, shape the unique paths we end up on. Sometimes, we can’t help but wonder about the “what-ifs” and how they might have altered our journeys. Had I begun my cosmetology journey earlier, I might have gained more experience by now and possibly established myself in the industry sooner. However, the timing of my decision to pursue cosmetology has also brought its own set of advantages. Read more>>

Heather Muriel Nguyen

Sometimes, I wish that I had understood sooner that the filmmaking I loved since I was a child was something that I could make into a career. There was a film club in my high-school, but most of the films they watched were black-and-white and with an all-white cast, so I didn’t think filmmaking had a place for a queer Vietnamese-American kid like me. When I was applying for colleges, I checked out some of their Film major webpages and found the same trend of white-only/dominant films. Only after college did I realize that I couldn’t wait for the stories and characters reflecting my and my communities’ experiences to be created, I had to learn on my own how to create them — in collaboration with an increasing number of phenomenal queer and trans folks of Color that I met along the way. If I had pursued filmmaking and acting sooner, maybe I would be more established in this industry. Read more>>

Laura Hunter Drago

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t pursuing a creative career, so I can’t wish that I’d started any sooner! However, I do wish that I had learned to listen to my own voice as a creator earlier on. I started out as an actress and while I love performing, over time I found myself a little unfulfilled in terms of taking charge of my own career. With acting, you’re often focused on giving the director or producer what they want for the project, and you’re almost always saying someone else’s words… that’s the job! What I found was that I was much more fulfilled being the writer and producer (and maybe one day a director, too) who gets to shape a project from the ground up. If I could go back, I would definitely start down that path earlier because it has brought a renewed sense of direction and joy to my career. Read more>>

Clint Atkinson

In my case it was sooner and later! I galloped out of the BFA gate in 1984 with group and solo shows while setting my sights on an MFA. While living in Vancouver, Canada I had an undergrad work purchased from a gallery by the Canada Art Bank. I continued this way through my Master with Arts Canada Magazine calling me one of three new artists to watch. But financial and emotional pressure was building in my personal life. Read more>>

Ruthie Buescher

One of the things I’ve begun to realize, as a theater practitioner, is the importance of gathering. I felt so much pressure in my twenties to create Good Work, to do something important, to excel. The further I get into my thirties, the more I realize that my best work is still ahead of me–I don’t expect to create truly great work until my 40s, 50s, maybe even 60s. So much of what makes a good director and playwright is being a good observer, a student of life. The more life you have under your belt, the better the work will be. I wish someone had told me in my twenties not to rush it. I wish someone had told me that even if I had the opportunities, I wouldn’t be capable of creating my best work yet, so don’t sweat it. The twenties should be all about seeking out other artists to work with, studying those you respect, and being part of their projects. Trying and failing, seeing what sticks. Working, yes. All the time. But doing it collaboratively. Read more>>

Helen Estrella

I have always felt like I was playing catch up in dance. I didn’t start taking dance classes until I was 16 years old, while most dancers start as early as 2 or 3. However, as I’ve grown, I’ve come to appreciate my unique journey. I didn’t have to relearn anything. As you could imagine, grasping concepts as a 5 year old and then as a teenager is quite different. I have also embraced the idea of always being a student. I still love taking class and learning new concepts as an artist. While once I wished I had started earlier, in hindsight, I’m grateful for the path I’ve traveled to reach where I am today. Read more>>

Robin Whalan

It’s kind of hard for me to answer that, really. I went to college for interior design; so I think I can say that if I knew that I would end up being on a creative path at this stage in my life, I would have preferred taking that route instead of opening a bar. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy what I did- I loved it. But if I had followed my original creative path and started practicing interior design straight out of school, I can only assume I would be well established doing that by now. It’s a bit more of a challenge to start a fresh new career from the ground up when you’re this far into life. On the other hand- if I was supposed to land here now. Doing what I do now- I needed to live all that I have lived so that I could get here to create the work. Read more>>

Jarod Lindsey

“Early on as an actor, I felt like I was severely behind the eight ball. Now, I feel like it’s refreshing to be able to have lived experiences that shaped me to be the man I am today. Whether it be boxing, wrestling, my firearms training or working as a bouncer.” “Ironically, some of these skillsets and the invaluable wisdom I’ve absorbed thorought life has allowed me to make some amazing artistic choices on-screen. So no regrets at all! It’s a blessing and everything happens for a reason.” Read more>>

Roger Ribeiro

I would have liked to have started my career later just for the sake of maturity, when we understand the true paths to take, how we should make certain choices, everything becomes lighter. When we are young we are gripped by anxiety and often stumble along the journey. Read more>>

Wesley Hanna

The short answer is no. I believe, to an extent, that things happen for a reason. On the other side of that, I know you have to pursue something and put forth the effort to accomplish your goals. I think I started my creative career at the right time, but I made the decision to put it aside for a few years. After I started college: I began writing songs, formed a band, performed some memorable shows, and we recorded an album. As college was wrapping up, it was apparent the band would not be staying together in it’s current form. It was also clear to me that my sound was changing and all momentum that had been built up was about to stall. It just did not make sense to take the next step at that time. Read more>>

Gerald C. Anderson, Sr.

Oh yes, sooner for sure! I started my career in 2008 after I graduated from the University of Cincinnati with my Masters in Criminal Justice Administration. There were times in my life before the computer age where I wish I had pulled out my typewriter and started writing my first novel. I know I lost a ton of great material I could have written and published. I chalk it up to a lesson. Now I keep my phone by my bed and any idea I get I jot it down for use in a future novel. Read more>>

Isaac Tillman

Yes, I do. I have always had a love for music and writing. I started writing at a young age, around 10. But I never started working on music writing till years later. Read more>>

Mark Ramirez

Like, I suspect, a lot of people, I wish I’d taken piano lessons for more than that one summer when I was 10. Or that I’d picked up the guitar sooner than the summer after graduating from high school. And after singing and writing songs in a few bands in my mid- to late 20s, I wish I hadn’t been content to simply play the drums. Looking back, I probably could’ve found a way to pursue music when my son was born, instead of taking a break from everything. But while there are a few things I could’ve done differently, I try not to dwell on the past, instead using these experiences to inform the decisions I make now and in the future. Read more>>

Matthew Clark

I think, as with most creative people, it’s an organic process that’s kind of always been there. Does that make sense? The roots of creativity you’re born with, so I feel like I have morphed into the creative soul I am today. I do wish I spent more time prepping for a lot of the projects I did when I was younger, but it’s a learning process. Read more>>

Gregory Blair

Sooner. Without a doubt. I made a lot of decisions that weren’t bad, but were wrong for the creative path I was meant to pursue. I learned a lot on those other paths, so they weren’t complete wastes of time…but had I gotten on the path I was meant to take sooner, I would be much further along in my journey. And the takeaway from this is to listen to your heart and your gut as much as your head. Don’t let only one of those guide you. The power of using that triumvirate of heart, head and gut will always help you make the best decisions. Read more>>

Angie Stocker

I truly wish that I had trusted myself and my talent when I was younger. Becoming an entertainer seemed so unrealistic and unattainable growing up in Springfield, Illinois. How would I start? Who would even see me? I ended up focusing on things that would send me down the “traditional” path of a 4 year college, only to abandon that for an acting conservatory. Even after that, I was still not confident in my abilities, and continued to try and make corporate grown up life work for me. After a few years of that I finally decided to get real about what I want…turns out, I wanted the spotlight all along, I was just too afraid to say it! Now that I’ve finally started to put myself out there, I realize that holding back my desires only held me back from realizing them. Read more>>

Markell Goode

Often times I do wonder what life would’ve looked like for me if I’d started my creative journey sooner. I would’ve absolutely been way more effective in how I manage business and even handle the many No’s that jabbed me in this thing we call life! Being a creative is so hard, being a BLACK CREATIVE is even harder and growing up in a time where education was pushed on me, I missed out on the road map in fashion. I never take for granted going to college, a HBCU at that because it was upon that hill where I met some of my lifetime friends and appreciated the beauty within being a Black Man! Read more>>

Olivia Maria

When you have the benefit of hindsight I think it’s easy to look back and second-guess your path as a creative and compare your journey to other people’s, but I think that the artist I am right now and the art I’m able to make at this point in my life is a direct product of all the learning I’ve done up til this point. As you get older it’s easy to feel like you’re racing against the clock, but I truly feel like I’m at the right place at the right time to be making the music I want to make. I don’t feel like that’s something you can force or rush. Read more>>

Cher Lytle

I started my creative career as a pastry chef and culinary producer at the age of 50, and it has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s natural to wonder if starting earlier would been beneficial, but my life experiences leading up to culinary school enriched my journey in such unique ways. I find it important to embrace the path I’ve taken and leverage the skills and experiences I’ve gained along the way. My diverse background may well be an asset in this creative world, offering a fresh perspective and creativity that others may not possess. Read more>>

Rachel Gonzalez

Since I was real little I’ve always gravitated towards more of the artistic path which essentially made me a little different than most of the kids I grew up with – so I hadn’t entirely took art seriously and considered it only a hobby until my Senior Year of highschool when I learned you could ultimately pursue an artistic career. Since I was in my last year, however, I felt a little behind in this pathway since I didn’t necessarily have a cohesive portfolio for art schools, or know exactly what I wanted to do with my skills and passions – I just knew I had a love for it. It wasn’t until my third year of college, that I realized Visual Development existed and was exactly where I could see myself be professionally and happy, and two years later, found myself Interning at one of the most incredible experiences I could ever had. Read more>>

Ali Ross

I wish I had started much much earlier in my creative career. I loved to draw and especially write when I was younger, but decided that it wasn’t a viable career choice. Many years later and more life experience under my belt, I realized that art and writing were my true passions and decided to follow the path that I had been meant to lead. Read more>>

Ty Gallaway

I do wish I started earlier, and I think that is the only regret I have as far as my music career. I was always writing music and producing since around 2011, but I was mostly just messing around with electronic music or other styles of music that wasn’t necessarily my forte. However, experimenting with song writing in any genre definitely put me in a better spot for when I was ready to start Shady Oaks. I wrote a ton of bad music before I started writing some decent tunes. So maybe it was all timing in the end. Read more>>

Valerie McMullen

There are some things we can’t change in life one being the past. However, if I could go back, I would have loved to have started my creative journey sooner. After college, life took a different path, and I spent over a decade in the airline industry as a flight attendant. This didn’t give me the opportunity to create art, but it did afford me the ability to visit museums in cities abroad and see the works of masters I had studied while in school. The creative seed was being planted and nourished so it could bloom at a later date. That urge to create was always there and even though I wasn’t painting at the time I was still being creative and inspired in a different way. Read more>>

SICK_MF_JAY

I wish I had started my music career sooner, I’ve wanted to get serious about making music since the 7th grade. Then in high school round 2013, I established Mutilated Music, followed by small shows I would throw on my grandmas’ driveway. Not until 2016 when I would move to Scottsdale, AZ and begin doing shows in real venues. … I would have started doing “real shows” and working with other artists a lot earlier if I was able to leave the rez whenever I wanted. Read more>>

Jessica Gabrielle

I wish I would have started sooner with my creative career. I say that because I grew up dancing more than singing, when I wanted to do both. Although dancing was something I loved doing, singing was my passion. Hearing my voice always made my soul feel better. Read more>>

Anthony Frazer

Sometimes I do wish I would have started my creative career sooner. I sometimes wonder where I would be at had I have started four or five years prior to when I did. I honestly started right before the pandemic on a solo path. So the way things rolled out my first few years as an artist I sometimes think might’ve been a bit different. I will say though I started in the industry back in 2006 when I was about 16 years old. I had plans on coming out as a solo artist back then, but I had to learn a lot of lessons very early on that I think were big pieces of knowledge.Had i skipped that period in time I wouldn’t have learned what i did. Read more>>

Justin Johnson

I don’t necessarily wish but, I also have that “what if” scenario hit me every now and then. From simple camera techniques to me editing, to think how everything is of second nature for me, I can only imagine the phenom I would’ve created within myself earlier on. Everything happens at the right time though, the process was there but, I had to grow in other places in my life. To sum it up, everything’s working at the time that it should, as long as I remain focused. Read more>>

Morell Brown

I think the hardships I went through while I was a teenager really helped me grow as a person. If I didn’t go through those tough times, I wouldn’t have any of the content that I released over the past 11 years. I’ve worked so hard to prove myself as a person of color and someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community. While I may have been naive during my earlier years about how the business works, I made my mistakes, learned from them, and continued to master my craft. My fans are so important to me because without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m proud of myself for continuing to work hard even while I was struggling to make things work. Read more>>