Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Tyrese O’Garro

I feel that as a black man I’m often mischaracterized. People label be as aggressive, monstrous, and beneath them before taking the opportunity to know me. People often hear my music and assume I’m just rapping about violence, drugs, and that my music lacks emotion. In reality, my music is a timeline of my life and emotions. My music also shows how I’ve overcome and how others can overcome as well to be successful. Me and my music are both examples of how you can be successful as long as you are driven, focused, and motivated. Read more>>

Adrian Jstn

I definitely feel like I’ve been misunderstood as a person when it comes to my career. Many people are not born with a strong drive to make each of their dreams come true… but I was. So often people confuse my focus and think I’m being standoffish or mean. When I’m really just thinking more about who I am and what I do now affects who I am and what I do in the future. Read more>>

Queen Rahmaya

I feel that I have been misunderstood and mischaracterized as an individual, because of my appearance and the way that I keep myself reserved internally. It definitely confuses people by the way I express fashion, beauty and art through my buried emotions and rebellion of societal standards. It came to the point where I was belittled and attacked for standing out, so I turned my pain into champagne. Read more>>

Reid Clark

In this video a comedy club owner who I respected an appreciated calls me out for doing comedy about racism and the audience turns on him. This happened at my home club after I had left home and been traveling with my travel nurse girlfriend to different scenes doing comedy. Always repping my hometown. However, you are never loved in your home town. Read more>>

Des Monique

Within becoming who I am as a creative and in spaces that cater to my creative attributes along with those that didn’t, I’ve had to learn to be comfortable. Comfortable in my craft, what I do, and who I am. I’ve witnessed myself transition into a new space in which I once didn’t feel as secure. Read more>>

Jessica Rivera

I think one of the biggest mischaracterized things I hear about cosmetology from some people is that “doing hair isn’t a real job,” or that “it’s just hair.” It’s frustrating to say the least, because most people don’t actually know what it takes to be a stylist. We’ve gone to school and taken a state board test for our license. Read more>>

MCE Obafemi & Ced Adamz

The climate of mainstream hip hop is overly saturated with a very limited range of subject matter, many in which can be considered degrading to women, filled with violence, drug use and conspicuous consumerism. So with my music, I would say that we are balancing the scales. Read more>>

Miss JT

I think the biggest misconception is the belief that creative directors don’t do anything, but the reality is, we contribute to the story of the project coming to life. I don’t have a specific story, but what I learned is transparency is just as important in your work as it is in your day to day life. Provide people the space to experience and learn for themselves! Read more>>

Graeme Winder

I failed every music class I ever took :). Even though I LOVED everything about music, and I could play, I was always the square peg in a round system because I was such a poor visual learner. Visual learning defines most music education systems but it is very limited on development with other types of musicians such as aural and creative learners. Read more>>

Cory Gonzales

Puddin is a very special dog, a dog whose disabilities haven’t always been accepted with open arms. Puddin’s story starts in a dark place where medical needs are neglected resulting in irreversible damage. this required the vet to remove her eyes due to the pain they were causing her. When adopting Puddin I wanted Puddin to experience nothing but love, security, and comfort. through this journey, I’ve discovered that this goal wasn’t as easy as one might think. Read more>>

Paola ‘Lola’ Pujols

In both areas of professions, massage therapy and modeling, I feel like my work has been misunderstood, even overlooked in some ways. In regards to massage therapy, I specialize in relaxation, energy work and mind/body integration. In the massage therapy world, deep pressured, therapeutic body are considered the high standard for effective healing often shaming or overlooking the benefits of other modalities such as Parasympathetic massage, Swedish, Lomi Lomi, and Reiki to name a few. Read more>>