Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Anne Say

I grew up in a very small town in northern New York, the kind of rural place where everyone knows your name and life moves a little slower. That pace gave me space to observe, to reflect, and to develop a deep appreciation for the quiet details, I like to observe how people move through the world, the way the seasons change in the mountains, the beauty in everyday rhythms. Read More>>

Alex Payne

I’m from Cartersville, a town about 40 miles north of Atlanta. While my town was largely conservative, I grew up around a lot of bikers, so seeing body modifications and tattoos was the norm to me. I even remember being a small child and applying “Tattoo Goo” to my mom’s healing tattoos. Tattoos were never a taboo to me, and I was always artistic and creative, so it was a no-brainer to become a tattoo artist. Read More>>

Abryanna Woodard

I was raised on the west side of Atlanta and later moved to Cobb County during my middle and high school years. My childhood wasn’t typical—after my parents separated, I spent weekdays with my mom focusing on school, and weekends with my dad, who ensured faith remained a cornerstone of my life by taking me to church. Read More>>