For the longest time I've been telling myself to put up a website and to publicize my portfolio. Year after year, I made excues and let other obligations get in the way. Time after time, I let my art fall to the wayside and my weathered hands grew uncomfortable with the pencils I was so fond of. And all because I was constantly looking for the stability society told me I needed.

I understand and love myself so much more than I did when I was in university, but in many ways I still found myself lost after graduation. I fell into teaching as a result of my part-time job, and even ended up living in Japan for a year to teach English to junior high school kids. Although I've been unsure about my career over the last three years, I realize now that I wouldn't have traded any of those experiences for the world. I love teaching, I really do. The discomfort and restlessness I feel about the profession is probably the result of my insecurities of not conforming to my parents' ideals and what the world dictates as success. The same kind of shame that I hold for art - I didn't have the courage to pursue something I loved because it wasn't a "sure thing". 

 2016 has been incredible to say the least. Not only because of the immense growth I've experienced and witnessed around me, but because of all the people I've met who have given up said stability to follow a life of their dreams.

Actresses, musicians, DJs, fashion bloggers, entrepreneurs, directors, teachers, authors, artists.

Artists. 

These people have shown me that sometimes forging a new path in this world is infinitely more fulfilling than walking the well-worn road. Like teaching, there is just something so wonderful about children saying goodbye to you at the end of the day that no amount of money could ever buy. Fulfillment has no price tag. Sometimes, giving up a stable job and consistent paycheck is worth the chance to do what you love, every single day. 

Life is about more than money, more than prestige, more than pride. 

Life is about passion, and this is my renewal of that belief.