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.

Gavin Worland | Trumpeter, Composer, Arranger, Bandleader, Producer, Educator

Music was in my life starting at a young age even though neither of my parents are musicians, they always played music and taught me what “good music” was early in my life. I started playing music in 4th grade. I had to choose between band and choir, and I ended up gravitating towards the trumpet. Almost instantly I was introduced to the world of jazz and big band music by my band director Bill Wilkinson. At the time I didn’t think too much of it until one of the “cool kids” got into the middle school jazz band, so I ended up doing the same. Even throughout most of middle school and high school, I didn’t think music was going to be my calling in life. I thought I would be a severe weather meteorologist doing crazy things like chasing tornadoes. Read more>>

Sara Lange | Photographer

I knew from a very young age that I didn’t want a “regular” job. A 9-5 as they call it. I knew I wasn’t meant to live that lifestyle. Even though so many people told me that I would never make a lot of money being a photographer and that I would need a second job. Well thankfully I squashed both of those myths. Yes, it took time, A LOT of hard work, many hours of feeling alone and isolated from society. But I would never change it for anything. I have worked many other jobs such as Chick Fil A, Sam’s Club, Costco, Autozone and a few others. When I worked at these places my heart felt so unfulfilled and lost. Which also made me have zero motivation towards my own business which got no attention while working at these other places. Read more>>

Jessica Kreger | Commercial Interior Designer and Artist

I was always into the creative realms. Early on in grade school I wanted to be a fashion designer. My mom used to let me cut up the bright orange and green yarn knit doilies on our end tables to make skirt’s. Fast forward to high school I had one person tell me I was good at something and she offered to write me a letter of recommendation for college. She was an interior designer teaching a graphic design class. I thought, wow, I’m good at something. And the story wrote itself from there. Read more>>

Keela McCleneghan | Adventure Photographer

I never actually wanted to have a career based on artistic talent! Even as a young child I loved painting, drawing, doing stage lighting, and was decent at them. I would compare artistic talent similar to a writer, sometimes you get writers block; sometimes you’re just stumped. What if you get stumped when it’s time to pay bills, or you’re in the hospital? You are your own source of income and your ideas. Should those be hampered in any way then it doesn’t matter how much talent you have if you cannot express them. I have held several other jobs in my life, many of which I got to utilize my artistic eye in aspects. I finally decided to make the leap and leave my Vetmed job because I was making more doing photography, and ultimately enjoying it more. Read more>>