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.

Mic Nickels | Emcee, Producer, Musician, Performer

I had always been a hip hop head, since as long as I can remember. Becoming an emcee was never premeditated. I had a homie who had some recording equipment and he invited me to jump on a track, and from that moment on, I was hooked. I really haven’t stopped writing since. I always have open ended verses and ideas saved in my phone. Through time, I learned to produce, and understand music, and built up my skills as a performer. I don’t think most people decide to become artists. Not the true ones anyways. It’s the ones who wake up each day and can’t imagine life without their passion, and feel compelled to create, without any ulterior motive. Read more>>

Mali Barnett | Artist

I chose an artistic creative career because it allows me to solve problems in novel ways, think outside the box, communicate effectively, stand out, adapt to change, and develop meaningful relationships and connections. Read more>>

Martina Gonzalez Bertello | Photographer

There wasn’t an exact moment where I decided to pursue anything artistically, it’s more so a hobby that for the first time I wasn’t getting bored of. I’ve been doing photography for a little over 3 years now and it’s still something I can constantly learn from. When I first started it was through my first digital camera (Canon Rebel T6I). So it was first digital photography, then film photography, then learning how to work in a darkroom and develop and print my own film, and this year I’m beginning to get into cyanotyping. So there’s a lot to explore in this medium. Read more>>