We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Pham recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Growing up as an Asian American, there were strong cultural expectations around stability, academic success, and choosing practical career paths. These expectations were rooted in the sacrifices my family made to create a better future for me.

And it seemed like I was on that path. I graduated in 2015 with a degree in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Business from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Right out of college, I was offered a position at a medical communications company—a great opportunity by most standards. Throughout college, I had worked multiple jobs: I was a desk attendant, tour guide, orientation leader, intern, and even modeled to help support myself. So when I landed a full-time job immediately after graduating, I felt excited and accomplished.

But just three months in, I quit.

I wasn’t happy. I started questioning my purpose, the kind of impact I wanted to have, and whether I could really see myself doing that kind of work long-term. I dreaded going to work every day, and I knew deep down something wasn’t right. So I made the difficult decision to walk away from stability and take a risk on something completely different.

Naturally, friends and family had strong opinions. They questioned my decision and expressed concerns—and yes, it affected me. But ultimately, I had to remind myself that this was my life, and I needed to live it on my own terms.

I decided to go all in on modeling and acting. Not long after, I met my now-best friend and business partner, Joey Min—a director and fight choreographer. Together, we ran Art School Dropouts, a YouTube channel and production company where we create martial arts action-comedy films.

I grew up watching classic martial arts movies and have been practicing Taekwondo since I was seven, so in many ways, this path made perfect sense—it just took courage to pursue it. The journey hasn’t been easy. It took years of nonstop work to build Art School Dropouts into what it is today, but I can honestly say I have no regrets. I’m doing what I love, and I’ve never been happier.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Okay! Well to introduce myself. Hi! My name is Stephanie Pham. I’m a martial artist, model, actress, and co-founder of the production company and YouTube channel Art School Dropouts. My journey into the creative industry is anything but conventional, and it all started with a sprained ankle.

Growing up, I trained in Taekwon-do and competed at both national and international levels. One defining moment was at the 2009 World Championships in Argentina, where I sprained my ankle during a sparring match against Greece. That injury, though frustrating at the time, became a pivotal moment in my life. It taught me that opportunities are fleeting, and from then on, I promised myself I would say “yes” more often—even to things that scared me.

Soon after, I was unexpectedly invited to participate in a pageant. As a martial arts girl, it was totally outside my comfort zone, but I gave it a shot anyway. I ended up placing 3rd Runner-Up for Miss Pennsylvania in the National American Miss pageant, and that experience opened doors into the world of modeling and acting. I started taking classes, building my portfolio, and learning everything I could about the entertainment industry—while applying the business skills I was gaining in college.

After college, I felt the urge to do more creatively. That’s when I met my now-business partner Joey Min, a director and fight choreographer. Together, we began creating martial arts action-comedy films through our YouTube channel, Art School Dropouts. What started as passion projects turned into a full-fledged production company.

We create short films, web series, action choreography, and features that blends martial arts with comedy, storytelling, and often a DIY indie spirit. What sets us apart is our unique style, our efficiency, and our consistency. I’ve learned both in front of and behind the camera, and that insight has made me a more mindful and effective producer, model and actress.

One thing I’m most proud of is how well-organized and streamlined our production process is. We invest heavily in pre-production so that our shoot days run smoothly and efficiently. But more importantly, I’m proud that we’ve stayed true to ourselves. We’ve carved out our own lane in the indie film space, remained unapologetically authentic, and built a loyal audience by doing what we love—our way. And because of it, we were able to work with Michael Jai White on his feature film, Trouble Man as his fight choreography team.

For anyone just discovering Art School Dropouts, I want them to know that what we create comes from a real place of passion, grit, and love for martial arts cinema.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is hearing the genuine responses and reactions from our viewers. We don’t have a massive following, and we never create with the expectation of going viral—but when someone reaches out to say that one of our films made them smile or brightened their day, it means everything. Knowing that our work, no matter the scale, can have a positive impact on someone—that’s the real reward.

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

My personal goal is to continue growing as a model and actress, exploring new roles and opportunities that challenge and inspire me. But my bigger goal—and the one that drives me every day—is for Art School Dropouts to thrive and make a lasting impact. I hope that one day we’ll be able to create a feature film every year and establish a film fund to support other indie creatives like us who are passionate about telling their own stories.

At the core of it all, our mission is simple: we want to share our stories. Through our unique blend of martial arts, action, and comedy, we aim to create content that entertains, connects with people, and amplifies voices that aren’t often represented in mainstream media. That’s what keeps us going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artschooldropouts.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/artschooldropouts instagram.com/sphammytkd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artschooldropouts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepham/
• Twitter: https://x.com/ASDOfilms
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtSchoolDropouts
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/c/artschooldropouts
  https://art-school-dropouts.creator-spring.com/
  https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/art-school-dropouts