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

Dru Kuhlman

I come from a creative family—my mom, dad, sister and I were musically inclined, and we all could draw. As a child, I loved to doodle, learned to play my dad’s ukulele at nine, and took piano lessons for several years alongside my sister. Music and art played a significant role in my life, and by high school, I had dreams of attending art school. However, my high school art teacher bluntly told me I had no talent and wouldn’t succeed in art. When my parents heard this, they didn’t support my desire to pursue art school, which was extremely disheartening. Read more>>

Eyal Alfandary

I knew that I wanted to become an actor since I was very young. I went to a lot of acting and singing classes for many years. I started acting when I was six years old and since that moment I couldn’t stop. The feeling of being on stage and performing is something that you can’t substitute with anything else. The excitement that you feel before you go on stage is one of my favorite feelings. I think that it started when I just wanted to perform in front of my family and then when I realized that I can do it on stage. I always enjoyed studying a new character and exploring a new world that I didn’t know. I was also curious about everything and asked a lot of questions and enjoyed imagining and studying subjects that I didn’t know. Read more>>

Sarhue Guerrero

Hi, thank you for inviting me. Well, to help you understand my story, it’s best to provide some context. I studied and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Simón Bolívar University, one most prestigious university in my country, Venezuela—a place known for its rigorous academic standards and impact, similar to a Harvard in our nation. From my studies, the design aspect was always what excited me the most. I initially came to New York for a few months to visit family as a quick stop before heading to Spain, where I had been accepted at the University of Málaga to pursue a master’s degree in Architecture and Design. This path aligned perfectly with what I had discovered I loved during my studies. However, while I had one plan, God and the universe had another in store for me. Read more>>

Justin Awn

I was inspired by my mother. She was a model in Switzerland and encouraged me to get into the creative sector. She got me started when I was one. My father has also been an inspiration as he was a musician. They both encouraged me to continue. Creativity is in my blood. It’s been a wonderful experience thus far and I’m forever thankful. I continue to stay on the grind, move forward in a good manner and always give thanks. Read more>>