We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Astro . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Astro below.

Astro , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

About a year ago I took a really big risk and decided to withdraw from college. College was something I always saw in my future and never imagined myself not completing, especially since I’ve always thrived in the classroom. But something shifted in me during my sophomore year. I didn’t want to go into a corporate position and work a regular 9-5 and I wanted the freedom and flexibility to pursue my passions such as dance and starting my own business. Yet I was still aware of how my classes were beneficial to me and was grateful for them. So I continued to go and learn from my teachers and peers but the more I went the more disconnected I felt from the material and the classroom setting. I kept going but as time went on the voice inside me only grew louder and louder so I decided to listen. When my sophomore year was done I decided to withdraw. This was a really big leap of faith for me; there was no security in my plan, no guarantees that any of it would work out but something in me knew I would be okay and I had to do it anyway. I’ve had no regrets about leaving although it has been challenging. I still feel that I made the right decision. I travel frequently, collaborate with various artists of different mediums, and have partnered with brands such as World of Dance, SHEIN, Monaco, and Jugrnaut; all while building my own business/brand. I even work closely with other small business owners to gain new perspectives and see how they run their own businesses so I can better understand how I want to run my own. Even though it’s only been a year since I removed myself from the classroom I never stopped learning. I just learn differently now and that was the adjustment I needed. I needed to replant myself in new environments so that I can continue to grow but in my own way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I identify as non-binary and am a multifaceted artist from Chicago. The first form of art I’ve ever done is dancing. I’ve been dancing since I was four years old and it’s always been second nature to me; like breathing. I started learning jazz/tap, hip-hop, hiplet, and breakdancing. But most of what I do now stems from years and years of practicing my freestyling in isolation. Without any influence from others it allowed me to really develop my own style. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I was introduced to the various dance communities and it’s been a very welcoming experience. I’ve done various performances, battles, collaborated with numerous brands, and have even connected with dancers I used to watch growing up. It’s truly been an eye opening experience for me. However, though I love to dance I wouldn’t be me without my other forms of creating. I’m also a graphic designer; I’ve created posters, logos, book covers, and bags but I mostly use graphic design to make clothes. I even taught myself how to screen print in my room and started by printing my own designs onto t-shirts and selling them. On top of that I’m a photographer, I specialize in still life photography where I build my own sets and use inanimate objects to tell a story. This is my favorite form of photography because I’m able to start a conversation about topics such as mental health with objects that cannot speak. Whether it’s planned or not I’m always finding new ways to express myself. Creating is a part of me. I wouldn’t be Astro if I wasn’t a creator and no matter what form of art I’m doing it’s all very special to me because it’s a reflection of myself. There’s a story behind it all and I always strive to create art that is meaningful and can relay messages that not only I need to hear but what I believe others need as well.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I’m a very introspective person which is good because I have a very keen awareness of myself; what I want out of life, what’s good for me, what hurts me etc. But it can also put me in my head a lot and I fall into a state of examination. I begin to overthink, examine my feelings instead of feeling them, and I’ll think about my journey and get so overwhelmed by it that at times I forget to take a step. This is a constant battle I face and what’s helped me the most through this is my artistry. Even though the process of creating can still be stressful it allows me to live outside of my head. To truly feel my feelings and see myself through various perspectives. It gives me a creative way to display pieces of myself; Whether it’s through dance, designing, photography, etc; whoever sees it sees a piece of me and I find that to be one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist. It’s like I’m in a gallery and I become the art. But not only am I the art, I’m also the viewer and I begin to appreciate all the little details, the effort that I put in, the journey that I’m on and the meaning behind it all and I see myself more clearly.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve recognized throughout my life and my creative journey what really pushes me is the want to persevere. It’s the ability to push past obstacles, to grow even when it’s uncomfortable, and create through the highs and lows that drives me. I want to grow with my artistry so that when I look back I know I’ll be proud of the progress I’ve made not only in my career as an artist but also my growth as a person.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @itssstro