Is it natural to wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a different path? Is it common? We asked many artists and creatives from all over the country if they’ve ever wondered about whether they should have pursued a more standard career path to see what we could learn from their stories.

Rosalia Moon Webster

I was born an Artist so there was a never a moment that I could undo what I am. In regards to do I ever wish I had a normal job absolutely not. Read more>>

Svetlana Toropoviene

I began composing and recording my songs professionally in December 2022, but my main occupation remains teaching ESP at one of the largest state colleges, working with both full-time and part-time adult students. Because of this, I often find myself living between two worlds: the structured, responsible world of education and the deeply emotional, limitless world of music. Read more>>

Grant Mateo

I would say that I view being an artist or creative not as a means to be happier, but as a way to live a life that fulfills me and that leaves behind no regrets. Read more>>

Aileen Pujols

I am very happy to be a creative, even with all of the rejection, and misconceptions/misunderstandings of it. I think acting/writing truly is the love of my life. There have been so many nights when I have stayed up all night writing or doing prep work on a script, and I am so incredibly happy to do it. Read more>>

Charlotte Martin

I am not saying the life of an artist is easy, especially when it is your main source of income or only income. What I’ve learned over the years is that I needed to diversify my skills within my music career. Read more>>

Juan Alvarado

It’s a funny question for me, because I don’t really live in one world or the other, I live in both. I’m happiest when I allow myself to be fully the artist and fully the professional. For a long time, I believed I had to choose between the two, but the truth is that my identity is built on that duality. Read more>>

Annette Barcelona

My career path was not linear by any means. I took a break in my early 20’s from my pursuit to be a professional dancer and went to college for Fashion Design & Marketing. I wanted to try something different, still artistic and creative in nature. I worked as an Assistant Buyer for Macy’s Department Stores for a couple of years, and then as a Production Assistant in Advertising. I found myself in a desk job I was great at, but felt extremely unfulfilled. In 2008, during the recession, the central office was eliminated, and I was gifted a severance. I was ecstatic to be forced OUT with time to forge a new path. Read more>>

Julianna Rubio Slager

Short answer: I’m happiest doing the work I was made to do. And yes—right in the thick of building La Llorona—I had a passing daydream about a neat desk job where no one asks, “Can you make an incredible, innovative one-of-a-kind ballet with a part-time company that is underpaid, chronically short on rehearsal time, with an audience that would rather stay home and watch Netflix—all while you have no real scheduled time to work on the piece and are constantly filling in for staff who are transitioning out—while juggling a PR crisis and the ramifications of a failing economy?” Read more>>