We asked some insanely talented artists, creatives and makers to tell us about when they know they were going to pursue a creative career.

Dennis Kim

I always dreamed about pursuing a career in magic when I was in high school. It felt like a fantasy, but I always thought about it, especially as time approached to start thinking about what colleges to apply to, what to major in and study, and what career paths I may be interested in. Read more>>

Kat Ivy

When I was 11 years old I went to my first concert. I saw my favorite band Lifehouse at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton NH. I saw how much fun it looked like they were having on stage and I wanted to experience that myself. I then got more into the band and researched their music more. Read more>>

Bianca Bridge

I truly took my creative pursuit very seriously during Covid. Read more>>

Alexandria Lemon

The first time I realized I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was actually during my marketing career. I started off focused on campaign strategy and data, but over time, I found myself gravitating toward the creative side – designing social media content, building visuals in Adobe and Canva, writing email copy, and crafting the storytelling that brings a campaign to life. Read more>>

Marquita Chanel

I think the first time I knew I wanted to do something creative professionally was when I was five. I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said an artist. My mom loved arts and crafts and would take me to Michaels and Joann’s, so being around creativity was just part of my world. Read more>>

Clayton Gibson

About fifteen years ago, I grabbed a crowbar, a blowtorch, and a cheap anvil from Harbor Freight just to see if I could make a knife. It wasn’t much, but it lit something in me. Then life happened — work, bills, and everything else — and the forge got pushed aside. Read more>>

Gillian Krystal

I think a lot of artists don’t always have a linear path. Mine has definitely involved a lot of exploration; friends I have met here in Nashville have mentioned that I have had ‘a few lives’ already. To be completely frank, I didn’t have a lot of confidence coming out of high school. Read more>>

Deven Gibson

Back in 2021 I was just getting familiar with it I had a lot of family that was connected with the music industry but I wasn’t rlly interested til my family from my city Carl Gleezy introduced me with it learning the craft and Shii like that but Bando child bring me to his shows that’s a childhood friend I knew growing up together in school he make music as well from my city then two both told me I should take it all in after the fact one of my other homies Tre told me to go get in the yo and try it out and that’s when I did take it all in 2022 I started dropping my 1st videos and songs on all platforms from then on out Read more>>

Samantha Babb

Honestly, everything started with my dad. He was in a band called Poetic Justice when I was growing up, and even though I don’t write the same kind of rock music he did, watching him chase that dream had a big effect on me. I grew up around amps, microphones, and late-night jam sessions—it was just part of life. Read more>>

Alexis Young

Back in high school, I started realizing how much I was drawn to the arts. I was a Thespian and took multiple art electives, which only depended my interest. By senior year, I was considering studying Computer Science, but since I wasn’t exactly great at science, I started thinking about Graphic Design instead! Read more>>

Brittany Otto

I have always had an urge to create. I grew up on a family owned organic farm in NH and had the importance of work ethic and solid community contribution emphasized in my upbringing. Read more>>

Ricquélle Badger

I first knew that I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally when I saw Brandy and Whitney Houston in Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. To see representation of myself in a Disney film but also portrayed as a Disney princess was truly epic and encouraging. Read more>>