Do you remember the moment you realized what you wanted to do professionally? Was it magic? Was it scary? We wanted to hear from some of the most talented artists and creatives in the community and so we asked them to tell us the story of the moment when they knew they were going to pursue a creative career path.

Kiersten Rae Rummell

I’ve known since I was a little kid that I wanted to be a musician! I started taking piano & voice lessons at age 5 and truly fell in love with it. My parents tell me I was constantly writing songs, singing in the backseat of their car and always gathering up the family to perform little shows for them. In high school, I really started to take the writing side more seriously. And during that time, I decided to apply & go to Belmont University specifically for their Songwriting Major! During those 4 years, I learned so much about the craft of songwriting as well as the music business, and there I realized I wanted to write for other artists too. Read more>>

Grant Lalaian

I started playing guitar at six years old and performing for people since the 2nd grade. Music has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I had been in numerous bands that didn’t pan out, then after my last one broke up, I decided I would just do it myself and not have to rely on anyone. So, I purchased a $20 microphone off Amazon, learned FL Studio (recording software), and started releasing music. Read more>>

Jessica Delacruz

I’ve always knew I wanted to sing as long as I could remember. Music is a big part of my family especially with my dad who was a musician himself. He played guitar, piano, and sang so I ended up doing the same. He also inspired me to write which I started when I was 9 years old. I decided to go out and do gigs about 5 years ago. Read more>>

York Olszewski

I’ve been playing guitar for almost 20 years now, but it wasn’t until early 2021 that I made the decision to pursue this career whole-heartedly. Finally, at the age of 31 and with a daughter on the way, I said, “yes, I can make it as a musician.” I wanted to do something meaningful with my art. After I released some of my first music and writings, one friend spoke to me to let me know that something I said moved him. Read more>>

Alexandra Peterson

I knew that photography was something I wanted to pursue professionally when I was in high school, and decided to research that very possibility. Photography has always been a passion of mine, something I have put my all into, and once I discovered that photography is a very real career path, being able to support myself while doing what I love became a dream of mine. Read more>>

Jose Tapia

Couple years ago I landed a job I thought I was set for life with driving celebrities for a living amazing pay, company car, Healthcare etc. But even dough I was financially stable I wasn’t happy in what I did, one day as I was waiting for a client to call me I was looking through instagram reels and boom I stumble upon a video of someone painting shoes. I started messing around with couple old shoes and would wear then on my days off. Read more>>

Heidi Abrahamson

Looking back, I’ve been a creative as long as I can remember, I had a lot of time alone as a child, my parents both had professions, my father was a woodworker, my mother was a dental lab technician with her own lab that my father had built for her. Their love of art and fine objects lead them in to becoming antique dealers on the side. Back then, there was no google, eBay, etc. We had books, a lot of books, they were constantly researching. Read more>>

Roni Zulu

My third grade art teacher knew I had a love and aptitude for art. One day she took me to the library and checked out a book she thought I would be interested in. The book was so large I could hardly pick it up. Upon opening its pages and seeing for the first time the treasures it displayed I was thunderstruck. My backpack was weighed down every day as I did not let this tome leave my possession for weeks. Read more>>

Donielle Richmond

I have always known that dance was my purpose. I began dancing at the age of 3 and loved it immediately. I faced resistance from family, friends and societal ignorance in regards to what life as a working dancer would look like. But I credit an unshakable belief in my dream combined with a spoonful of stubbornness. When people doubt me, it motivates me. Read more>>

Nuha Moretz

My love and appreciation for art started when I was in high school while living in Tokyo, Japan. I spent countless hours in the art lab, and took every class possible. I longed to pursue a degree in art, but my parents talked me out of it in favor of a more “practical” path. While pursuing an M.A from Ohio University in International Studies as a Fulbright Scholar, I studied education reform and gender equity, topics that are still dear to my heart, even as I have returned to my earlier passion for art. Read more>>

HARZEE

I knew I wanted to pursue this profession after learning how readily available a lot of resources were to me. I grew up listening and watching some of my favorite artists for so long, not knowing I could do what they did once I found out a way to make something happen. Soon enough, I was introduced to free resources and makeshift ways to produce my own music, and it has gone well ever since. I only get better with time and experience. Read more>>

Milton Jackson

I first knew I wanted pursue this path professionally when I had done my first stage show. We wrapped up the final series of shows and it sank in that it was the last one, but I just couldn’t wait to go out there again. It was a great show, in a great atmosphere, being both put on and consumed by great people. Also my parents were in the crowd one of those nights. Read more>>

Aaliyah Little

I have always been an artistic person and I’ve explored art in many in different forms. I used to be very passionate about painting, drawing, and writing, but once I was introduced to photography, I knew it was a craft that I wanted to explore. I started with film photography, (which is my absolute true love) but resources were becoming limited and I struggled with consistency. Read more>>

Terrell Dawson

I knew i didnt want to be regular and i knew with music i can be different while still being myself Read more>>

Bonnie Sprung

I was born with a paintbrush in my hand. So I’ve always known that I would be creative. But for a short instant I started college with a major in art but a minor in biology, thinking I may want to become a veterinarian. That changed when my speech teacher said a new drama program was starting and if I would be interested in painting on a large scale for theater. That’s when I changed my major to set design and a minor in graphics. Read more>>

1K Spin

When I recorded my first song and I felt relieved. I went back a few days later to see if I felt the same way and I did. I knew I needed to shift my focus to music and take it seriously once I seen the ones around me saw potential in my music. Read more>>

Angela Shankar

I always knew I would be a musician. I started taking dance lessons when I was very young and remember feeling at home within the rhythm and movement. As I grew older, I was fascinated by the intricacies of the rhythms in tap. My dad played the sax and I was in love with the sound, so when I was old enough to choose a musical instrument in school, I chose the saxophone. Read more>>

La Porchanae Green

I first realized I wanted to pursue Pastry when I learned how to make ice cream cakes. I was very much always into artistry because I wanted to be a interior designer for homes and cars. When I decided that I wanted to go to college, I doubled majored in both interior design and baking and pastry, and I leaned more towards baking and pastry really because they had a chocolate class lol, I thought it was the dopest thing.. Read more>>

Tamaki Harvey Stratman

While in college, I received my master’s degree in business administration and studied Fashion and Fashion Merchandising while pursuing my undergraduate degree. I am a museum administrative professional by day and a lifestyle influencer by night. Read more>>

Georgiana Hasrouni

From a young age, I was always a creative kid. In my free time, I would immerse myself in music, playing it on loudspeakers and joyfully singing along to my favorite tunes. It was within the realms of Rap & Hip-Hop that my true passion blossomed. At the young age of 11, I began experimenting with rapping over instrumental beats, purely for the fun of it. What started as a mere pastime soon grew into something more significant. Read more>>

Edgar Sanchez Cumbas

-I knew when I sold my first drawing through a gallery. What confirmed my doubts was that particular sale and where I was at in my life. I graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design. I was more trained to be a structural artist as I majored in illustration, but my heart belonged to painting and experimenting with making things. Read more>>

Abby Knight

When I was a teenager, about 17 I think, I started my first Youtube channel. I loved the idea of Youtube and the editing portion fascinated me most of all. I uploaded a lot of videos inspired by my favorite movies and tv series at the time, along with random clips of me acting with different accents. Read more>>

Jennifer MKoma

I knew I wanted to pursue acting after my last musical play in high school. The thought of graduating and never acting again did not sit well with me. While I was a pre-med student in college, I still made sure to involve myself within film. I knew a few students who were studying cinematography and made sure that they casted me in their short films. The more involved I was with film, the more I knew that medicine was not for me. Film is my happy place. Read more>>

Rich Bontrager

Between the ages of 8 -10 years old listening to Cubs baseball on the radio and watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson Read more>>

Ariana Kaufman

When I watch home videos of my childhood it seems apparent that I would choose an artistic path. I was always putting on plays for my family before dinner, doing impressions of my favorite actors, dressing up as different characters, etc.. Read more>>

Tisha Robinson

My love for jewelry started when I was a child, curious and always going through my mother’s jewelry drawers. Born in Mexico, her collection was filled with a variety of textures and designs, from turquoise necklaces, to her tarnished class ring, missing the stone and still kept in it’s original leather pouch. With permission, I would borrow a jewelry piece or two, mesmerized by the design, the glow of the gemstones, the magic within. Read more>>

Andreas Ziegler

When I grew up I had a dream of becoming a pro wrestler after playing the WWE 2006 video game. At the time I was a skinny picked on kid. But I had this dream, so I built myself up and became a national champion bodybuilder and freestyle skier. Now, I travel the country as a pro wrestler! Read more>>

Tess Myers

Humm, this question is a little harder to answer then one would think. I have always loved making or creating things that others would love or that made them laugh. When I first started embroidering and giving things as gifts, I saw how happy it made them. I also found it was not as hard to learn as I thought. I did not take classes or have a teacher. I learned by making mistakes and figuring out how to correct them. Read more>>

Iss Holliday

Last year. I was dabbing into this career as an influencer a few years ago but never.dtayed as consistent as I am now. Read more>>

Haleigh Rice

High school was the first time I figured out that I really wanted to pursue photography as a creative path! Read more>>

Brian Rosario

I first wanted to purse music when i first heard Hip Hop Read more>>

Nazar Nazareth Gersant

When I had my health issues I knew I had to come back stronger and pursue an artistic career Read more>>

Preaundrea Franklin

Since I was a kid, I always wanted to express myself through various creative platforms whether it was music, theatre, art, pottery, etc. I had a fascination with the versatility of art forms and creating things helped me feel good about myself and gave me a purpose. I didn’t do well in things like math and history, but art was something I was really good at. I was good with putting together words and stories and art was a goal I wanted to achieve and something I felt good about pursuing. Read more>>

Peter Daily

When I was a teenager, around 17 or 18 years old. Read more>>

Xuanlin Ye

From a young age, I was enamored with the arts. My childhood was punctuated by a keen fascination for visual expression, and I reveled in the exploration of various artistic media. However, it wasn’t until my transformative high school years that I realized my aspiration to follow a professional artistic trajectory. This epiphany arrived during my tenure at a boarding school in the United States, a time that allowed me to step outside my cultural confines and subsequently fueled my artistic evolution. Read more>>

Lucinda Luvaas

I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a creator. Read more>>

Erykah Franklin

I feel like I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a more creative career, and that’s probably due to my experiences and interest in to wanting to do/try everything. Read more>>

Lisa Bartley

After going to college, graduating, and realizing I needed something else. Read more>>

Yolanda Cruz

I always enjoyed music and singing as a little girl, but I started writing music at 16 years old and never looked back. Read more>>

Michael Cantres

I been rapping since age 10, however I took music seriously when I was homeless for the 1st time back in the year 2010 Read more>>

Darius Harrell

I knew I wanted to pursue music in 2015 Read more>>

SJ Mendelson

When I was a little child. Read more>>

Yanisa Torres

The day after my sister signed me up for an art show. I didn’t have much faith in my work. And went with a small collection of paintings. They all sold out that evening. It was the encouragement I needed! After this, I sold a painting for a fundraiser to help a single mother with her cancer treatment. Helping someone in need through art, gave me direction. That is when I knew to pursue art professionally. Read more>>

Shanna Brailford

I knew I what to pursue my craft when people started to notice my skill and said I should go to school for hair. Read more>>