We asked some of the most creative folks we know to open up to us about why they chose a creative career path. Check out their responses below.

Citizen Snips | Indie Pop band consisting of Trevor Ayers, David Hill, Erik Moody, Namik Fuentes-Barrientos

We all saw fiery visions on a hill of Julian Casblancas, Donald Fagen, Brian Wilson, and Alex Turner and they told us to form a band. Dave was heartbroken, Erik was stifled, Trevor wasn’t a person yet, Namik had health issues. All of us needed some kind of release that we couldn’t seem to find individually. Read more>>

DropOut Finn | Rapper & Fusion Chef

I grew up in a creative household, whether it was drawing, painting, or recording “mixtapes” on a dual cassette player . We would even write out scripts to movies . Naturally I was just always doing something with my hands or voice . Read more>>

Reneé Sunshine | Singer/Songwriter, Model, Aspiring Actress

Hi Reneé, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I decided to pursue an artistic/creative career because it’s what I love to do and what makes me the happiest. I have worked plenty of jobs and been great at them too. Read more>>

Princess Ella | Music Artist, IT personnel & Small Business Owner

I didn’t choose Music, Music chose me….. My Music career started when i was 9 years old . i used to sing in school , in church choir and i wrote my first song and performed it at my grand mother’s birthday party at the age of 10. Read more>>

Darius Jenkind | Graphic Designer

When I used to draw and paint as kid I wanted people to see my vision. I knew I could go further than acrylics and paper. I focused on figuring out what I wanted to do in high school and found out what graphic design was. Read more>>

Amber Wyatt | Chef Ambii

I pursued a career at being a Chef because it’s something I enjoy doing and I am great at what I do. I never really looked at cooking as a gift until I got older. I started cooking when I was 7 years old, and by preteen I was cooking full course meals. Read more>>

MENU | Alternative Rock Band (but like, with a certain v i b e)

Our intrigue in music started early on for the both of us, with polarizing experiences – but somehow, it brought us together; we knew we had to pursue it. Read more>>

Princess King | Actress, Singer-Songwriter, Event Planner

When I was a little girl, “Thats So Raven” had just premiered. I remembered how in awe I was of her, I loved how entertaining, bold, and funny she was too me. By the age of 7, I had decided what I wanted to do for the rest of my life; I was going to become an actress and entertain people the same way Raven Symone and many other actresses had entertained me. Read more>>

Kai September | Recording Artist & Songwriter

From a young age I believe I saw the world differently than most. The moment that I could understand what music was, everything around me became music. At a young age I started playing instruments. Read more>>

Paul Fenin Jr. | Photographer, Videographer, Graphic Designer, Video Editor, Music Producer, & T-Shirt Designer

I pursued this creative career because I always have a lot on my mind. Good or bad, my mind is always rushing with ideas, questions, answers, thoughts, anything you can name, I’ve probably thought about it a good 3-4 times. Read more>>

Groovy GranMama | Performance Artist

Throughout school I was bullied heavily and often I thought I had it the worst, but once I got involved in the arts my entire perspective changed. I began playing roles in school plays as well as in Community theatre and they opened my eyes to the lives of others who are going through far worse. Read more>>

Pharah Sykes | Creative Entrepreneur

Look around you and all the natural beauty this world has to offer. For this reason, I believe God was an artist. I want to be able to express my creativity that leave that kind of imprint on society. Read more>>

Regina Bryant | Actress & Director

Originally I started acting when I was 6, just for fun and the experience, but as I got older I found a genuine passion for storytelling. I love anything that involves creativity and art, to not only breathe life into the stories of those who feel they do not have a voice, Read more>>

Toni (Ladyy Papa) Manar | Choreographer / Instructor / Motivator

I pursued an artistic/ creative career because I tried to go down the corporate / 9-5 path and it wasn’t for me. By “I tried to go down that path”, I mean i started with college because I didn’t really have a choice. Read more>>

My_Kayla | Rapper/Songwriter

As cliché as it sounds, I did not choose a creative career, instead a creative career chose me. Since a young child I’ve always had an interest in the creative arts. My curiosity led me to participate in various arts and media related activities growing up. Read more>>

Sidney Yaphit | Entrepeneur & Artist of Many mediums ( Lgbt Artivist)

After living with my aunt,and being faced with a reality in which the only things you did were watch the hours go by, working for someone elses business, and go home to spend what little time you had outside of work were spent sleeping and/or preparing for to return to work, just to do that over, and over again. Read more>>

Princess Miller, MSEB | Owner and Creative Sage of Princess Creative Productions LLC

Church is how I got started in my creative career. My pastor told me at the age of 19 that he wanted to start a TV broadcast and Radio show and he wanted me to be the head of the TV ministry and the voice of the radio show. I was terrified… Read more>>

Rossa Skywalka | Rapper, Singer, & Producer

I started pursuing a creative career in music because I love the creative side of it and being able to write & record my truest feelings is a form of therapy for me. Read more>>

Carly Larsson | Illustrator | Designer

I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else. I’ve always been a creative person, and when it came to deciding what I wanted to dedicate my life to, it felt natural. No other option seemed as fulfilling to me. Read more>>

Liciaa J. | Website/UX Designer

I wanted to pursue a creative career because being creative truly comes natural to me and I enjoy using my many talents to create aesthetically pleasing results. I decided to start my own business in the beginning of the pandemic, during a time where things were very uncertain. Read more>>

Madeleine Soloway | Artist, Art Portfolio Advisor, Educator

On some level throughout my life, I have always been involved in some form or other in a creative practice. As a young child, I set up a corner of my bedroom with an “art table”, more interested in imaginative assemblages, rather than traditional drawing. Read more>>

Jyaira Moore | Model & Culinarian

I pursued an artistic and creative career because I love to see the reactions on peoples faces when I bring my cocktails or food to them.I love the magic I create when I can completely be myself and create what it is that I what to create. Read more>>

Plushette Ellis | Creative Entrepreneur

My journey in the Arts started with my love of fashion and Pop Culture. I love expressing my mood and elevating my mood through fashion which makes me feel like Art everywhere I go. Read more>>

Natalie D. Joseph | Event Designer|Planner

To be honest I didn’t choose a creative career. It chosen me. I have always been passionate about people and ensuring everyone around me is having a pleasant day and just doing fine mentally. Read more>>

A.C. Kimsey | Actor

There’s a quote I keep as my phone wallpaper from poet Tania Hart that says, “You have the desire / to make your art for a reason. / People are thirsty for it / hungry for it, / waiting for the medicine / it would bring. Read more>>

Jasmine Vaughn | Filmmaker & CEO of BlkSheep Entertainment

Coming from a long lineage of artistic/creative people, creativity is in my blood. My great grandfather owned his own dance studio, his son (my grandfather) performed as a backup dancer with the legendary, Eartha Kitt, and my father was a DJ. Read more>>

Rio | HipHop Artist & Songwriter

Pursuing literature is what really transformed the creative side of me. Reading & learning how to write is what lead me onto Poetry. During my middle school era, we’d have open mic Friday’s where everybody had a chance to express themselves freely with poetry/spoken word. Read more>>

Mary Marsh | Makeup Artist

Pursuing a career in the arts was never a question for me; being an artist was the first & only job I said I had ever truly wanted. While I did attempt to major in child psychology my first year of college, I always knew deep down that it would not be a forever thing. Read more>>

Troy Maddox | Music Producer

I chose to pursue an artistic career because I’ve always had a passion to be a creative since I was about 8 years old. Read more>>

Ecdubble | Song Writer, Artist, Entrepreneur

Honestly I didnt really choose it as much as it chose me. From young as I can remember I’ve been in love with music. My first love no doubt. I also had a grand mother Nana Dia RIP who ran a “shot house” in Alabama. Read more>>

Tamara Abrosimova | Actor, cosplayer, entrepreneur, podcaster

Ever since I was a kid and watched the first Harry Potter movie, I wanted to be a part of the world where I could be anyone, anywhere and anyWHEN. Like every kid and some adults I tend to have a crazy imagination where logic doesn’t necessarily exist and anything is possible. Read more>>

Mook TheMessiah | BlackBusinessOwner/Musician/Clothing Designer

Not only do I work a 9-5, I hustle.. . I own a carrier service, Customize Apparel on top of all that I am still pursuing my passion as a FULLY INDEPENDENT Musician. Read more>>

Michael Q. Yates Jr. | Book Author, Multimedia Professional, & Entreprenuer

I did not choose an artistic or creative career, it’s just who I am. I remember having a guest speaker in class in high school who used to be a sports medicine doctor for the Atlanta Hawks and he made really good money and when asked why do you go around to different schools and give motivational speeches about life he replied, Read more>>

Nicole Benza | Pastry Chef

I didn´t choose art, art chose me. I consider myself to be a very creative person. First, it started with music at The Conservatory of Music in Lima, Peru. That transpired me to move to Italy to sign Opera. Read more>>

Natasha Powell | Creative & Financial Aid Consultant

Simply, I didn’t pursue a creative career. My creative career, found/pursued me. I was busy, knee deep and fully committed in building my first startup FindAid4Me. Read more>>