We recently connected with Morgan Szewczyk and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Morgan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew early on I was different. At a young age I always appreciated art, oddities, and differences. I was lucky enough to have a mother who understood that and preached to me that I can “do anything.” And I think that is where this all began.

Morgan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started out after graduating high school. I enrolled into Empire Beauty School. I spent a lot of nights pondering if it was really the best choice for me. I eventually came to the conclusion that it was. I learned skills. I learned how to handle business. I learned to appreciate my craft. My favorite thing in this world is making other people happy. After graduating beauty school I met my partner who encouraged me to do more. Now outside of the salon we have a small business, The Midnight Willow. We are a home-based family business that creates fashion and home decor. We work with other vendors and do public events. We most recently got ourselves set up in a local artisan gift shop.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I can say over and over again to never give up. But you never have to feel bad for taking a break and reflecting on life for a little while. As for most people 2020 was a rough time. My world turned upside. I had to leave my salon job during the pandemic. I was out of work for what felt like an eternity. It was my partner who encouraged me to start a home business. That gave me my creative freedom back and pushed me back into a salon. In the end I got the best of both worlds. I’m always working but it feels good to feel human again. I always say everything happens for a reason.

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

A difficult question because there is so much rewarding aspects being a creator. I love when I can create something like a new hair color for a client and you can see their face blush with excitement. Hearing the words “you did this exactly the way I wanted it” or “you did better than I could ever imagine.” When people love the art you create and it fills them with joy is always reciprocated and makes it all worth it. When we visit our gift shop and we hear about people excited to see our newest macrame and buys one of every color I swear I get tingles inside. The world needs more happiness. Providing that is rewarding to me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: morganleightlc
• Facebook: TheMidnightWillow