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.

Nasim Nourian | Visual Artist & Yoga Instructor

Thank you for asking about my artistic journey, as it allows me to express my gratitude for being able to pursue a creative career. I truly believe that inherent creativity is a fundamental part of being human. That we are all born creative beings. But many of us, including myself, often neglect or silence this creative side due to circumstances that may be out of our control. As a first-generation immigrant, my family expectations led me to believe that the “right” path was pursuing a conventional career, a doctor, a lawyer, etc. And so, I graduated with a degree in pre-law and political science, initially with the goal of attending law school but found myself in a lucrative corporate job after college, which really shaped my life for over two decades. Read more>>

Cory Swanson | Author

My day job is teaching band and orchestra to middle schoolers. I’ve never been interested in anything but art, literature, and music. As a kid, I wanted to be a rock star. There was no ‘Plan B.’ About eight years ago, with two small kids in the house, I had a bit of a crisis. Call it midlife, call it too little sleep, but I wasn’t happy just keeping on with the status quo. What I did was desperate and extreme: I started writing. The first novel I wrote was garbage, but I went after it with a growth mindset. I went to writers’ groups and kept cranking out material. In 2018, I got my first short story published. In 2019, my novella, Geminus, was published by Castrum Press. In 2020, Exeter Publishing put out my novel, Venus the Monk. Read more>>

Kyndel Shalaè | Behavioral Health Tech & Artist

Art has always been a passion of mine ever since I could remember. It has allowed me to express myself when I would not necessarily have the words for my thoughts or feeling. Being able to share my work with others is something I hope will inspires them to peruse something they love. Read more>>