"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."
- Dolly Parton
From an early age I wanted to be an artist and was as sure as one can be at age 8, that was my calling. Growing up, I heard the term "starving artist" often enough that it dampened my enthusiasm to go all in on the pursuit of an artistic career. My parents, both pragmatic people, encouraged me to choose a vocation that paid well, had decent benefits, and offered opportunities for advancement. They suggested that art would be a great hobby.
I do not know what my life would have been like had I decided to put all my energy into a photographic career. Frankly, I don't think about it much. I'm just pleased to have the opportunity to reconnect with who I've always been and be doing it on purpose.
