We asked some of the brightest folks from within the community to reflect back on their days in school and to share with us a story of when they learned a particularly important or impactful lesson. We’ve shared highlights below.

Rachel Morgan

When I was attending Cosmetology School, I will never forget my instructor talking about saying “YES” to any opportunity that comes my way. Embracing new challenges or responsibilities can lead to personal and professional development. Saying yes can push you out of your comfort zone and help you acquire new skills. Read more>>

Kim Myles

I attended theater conservatory (PCPA) for my A.A. degree at age 20, and was taught how to parse competition and ignore imposter syndrome. Here’s the lesson: If there are ten people in an audition waiting room, five of them will be generally unprepared. This leaves five ‘actual’ competitors, and of them, two will be wrong for the job. Which leaves only three competitors, and one of them is might bomb the audition, while the other is just trash at acting. Which means that of the original ten competitors, only ONE is your true competition and one is a VERY manageable number – SO beatable! This mental calculation has lead to some of my biggest professional successes. Read more>> 

Jacquelyn Lin

“Don’t stay in your comfort zone.” While pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art Illustration at ArtCenter, I’ve deliberately enrolled in a wide range of classes beyond my major’s requirements to explore my interests and broaden my knowledge. These classes include traditional printmaking, motion design, children’s book illustration, 3D Maya, graphic design, and more. Often, I’m the only Illustration major in these courses, navigating unfamiliar territory while collaborating with students from diverse disciplines. Although not every class directly contributes to my portfolio, they have significantly enhanced my communication and interpersonal skills, fostering a higher level of maturity. Read more>>

Candice Mckinney

The most important lesson I learned in school is to be true to yourself and consider your strengths opposed to doing what you think others want you to do.My journey to becoming a mental health therapist was pretty surprising considering that I always wanted to be a doctor since I was a little girl. A therapist was never thought of as an option for a career. I believe I originally chose to be a doctor because I was really good in school and it seemed like the thing for “smart kids” to do. I also received a lot of positive feedback from my family and community when I would tell someone my goals. Read more>>