There are so many factors that affect how our lives turn out, but one of the most interesting is how our backgrounds give us unique strengths and perspectives that affect who we are as adults. We asked rising stars from the community to tell us about their background and upbringing and how they feel it’s impacted who they are today.

Cannonball Red just call me Red | Blues artist

I’m from a place called Douglasville GA. 2 counties over from the Alabama line. I was exposed to a diverse range of music, a large part of it was gospel music. However I landed in the blues. Read more>>

Nadine Duncan, EdD | Publisher, Author, Educator

I don’t think I realized the power of my intrinsic motivation until I was an adult. I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia but I grew up in Hillside, New Jersey. My family is from Trinidad, so I grew up in a Caribbean-American household. I think that my upbringing set the foundation for excellence being the norm. I am the kind of person that can recognize that I may not have all the answers, or do things as well as I would like the first time, but the go-getter mindset that was instilled in me is what keeps me motivated to create new things, problem solve, etc. Read more>>

Seher Haque | Content Creator & Professional Organizer

I was born in a small town in Michigan where I did my elementary school from. At age 9, my dad suddenly decided to move us all to half way across the world to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We were all nervous but it became the experience of a lifetime! The diversity in Malaysia changed really helped to broaden our perspectives. A few years later, we moved to the glamorous United Arab Emirates, where everything is larger than life. Read more>>

Kui Long | Fashion designer & Stylist

I’m from China and have been in the US since 2019. I’m a fashion designer with a diverse background. I have been interested in fashion design for years since junior high school. It started with watching Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model. When I saw the models walking on the runway with extraordinary garments on them, I could not help thinking, “what if they put on my designs.” Read more>>

Emily Lee | UX Designer

I was born in South Korea and moved to the States when I was seven. Growing up, my parents wanted to give me and my brother the best of everything, including the opportunity to travel and experience the world. I have lived in many different countries and states, which helped mold the person I am today. It has broadened my scope of adaptability and creativity skills and helped establish a goal that motivates me every day.  Read more>>

Anais Magee | Candle Maker

I was born and raised in Southern California. I was raised by a single mother, who had sickle cell anemia. She didn’t let sickle cell anemia define who she was. She taught me to never let your circumstance fine who you are. She taught me to keep God first and everything else will fall into place. She also taught me when something is difficult don’t give up. Keep learning about the thing that is difficult until it becomes easy. Read more>>