Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

Ileyna Witenstien

I think risk taking is imperative in life and in your career. Specifically with my art, I am always taking risks. Weather that’s with what i’m physically creating or putting out in the world. I think that sometimes my art can make people uncomfortable because I create raw emotions in my paintings. I want people to feel something when they look at my art and if that feeling is being uncomfortable, then I did my job and took a risk with my art. Moreover, I took a risk with my teaching career as well. I went into college wanting to be a full-time artist. Read More>>

Li Rothrock

I believe in calculated risk. In undergrad I didn’t know what I wanted to do for my career, so I studied math – both because I like math, but also because I thought it would open the most doors for me career-wise out of the options I was considering (English, photography, Spanish, philosophy…). I went for a route that felt safe, that gave me options, because I wasn’t yet sure what I wanted. During the pandemic, I was working in tech, and (like many people) started re-thinking what I wanted to do long-term. Leaving a stable tech career to get my MFA was a big risk, but at that point I knew what I wanted and was willing to sacrifice to go after it. Read More>>

Jessica Skumlien

Life wouldn’t be worth living without some risks. My whole life has been a series of taking risks and I couldn’t be happier with where I am today. My biggest financial risk was opening our tattoo shop, Underdark Ink. If it wasn’t for making this leap, I wouldn’t get to create my own hours and art. It has allowed me to be unapologetically me and gave me the freedom to no longer tolerate negativity. Read More>>

Patricia Le Foll

I taught economics in my country, France, and decided that I should start my own school. I did not think about risks thanks to my determination. I didn’t know though that this school would be born in the USA, in Philadelphia, neither that it is French that I would be teaching. It is for family reasons that I moved to America, and I taught French because it is my native language, and I am also a French writer who loves French as a language. I also knew that I would not be able to be the best teacher to teach economics in English to Americans! I taught in several language schools and at Temple University for six years, when I felt ready to create my own school after six years. There were some risks, but again I was happily determined that I was going to make it, and my school was successful for as long as I remained in Pennsylvania, twenty-three years. Read More>>