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.

Emily Alcorta | Barber & Cosmetologist

When I was a teenager in high school, I used to trim my mom’s hair for her. She liked it perfectly straight across, and I made sure every single hair was even. I’ve also always loved makeup and hair. I did my friend’s makeup before prom or events in school. I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed doing hair and makeup. It turned into a hobby for me and I practiced on myself every day. Then after I graduated, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
After a few years of working and trying out community college, I decided to go to cosmetology school and see if this hobby could turn into a career. Once I graduated cosmetology school, I worked at Great Clips as my first job. I learned more on how to do men’s haircuts and then moved on to more men’s grooming salons. I really loved men’s cuts and shaves so I decided to further my career and go to barber school. I am now a dual licensed cosmetologist and barber and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Read more>>

Shahrzad Hamzeh | Performer, Artist, Writer, and Model

It may sound cliché, but art is in my blood. In a way, I had no choice! My mother tried to dissuade me, often saying that “art will not be bread and water.” This is a Persian expression, and she meant that following a career in the arts wouldn’t provide a stable income. My mother was a rug weaver from the city of Qom, a place renowned in Iran for its intricate and high-quality rugs. My father, on the other hand, is a shoemaker who also sings as a public performer. His singing falls into a unique category, as he guides the audience’s reactions through the stories he narrates. When I was a child, he would often take me to his performances, especially on religious occasions. Read more>>

Amy Martin | author & journalist, community rabblerouser, nature nut

I was an accelerated learner and took my college entrance exams at age 13. Too young to fill out the application myself, so my father did. In the slot labeled “future occupation” he wrote “writer.” News to me. I planned to become a forest ranger in Idaho, as far from my family as I could get, That required a college degree, I was chagrined to learn. So in the mid-’70s I settled in the boonies of Red River County in NE Texas — no radio, no TV, no newspapers — and became a cucumber farmer for Best Maid Pickles. After three years, my brain started to atrophy, so I began attending Paris Junior College. A teacher entered an essay of mine in the college creative writing contest, which I won. A writer was born and I fulfilled my father’s prediction. Read more>>

Victoria Day | Aesthetic Nurse Injector

Creativity allows us to express things that sometimes you cannot put into words. We have always been passionate about both creativity and science. Aesthetic nursing has given us the platform to do both while we help people feel beautiful in the skin they’re in. We thrive on enhancing people’s natural beauty which in turn gives them that boost of confidence to feel good about themselves. We have an eye for this sort of thing and that is what it takes. The ability to see what others cannot to give natural enhancements and the understanding of anatomy. We have years of experience tailoring treatments to each individual and creating results that empower our clients. Read more>>