From Nursing Student To Full-Time Creative

The toughest part of any creative journey isn’t developing your skills, it’s figuring out how to turn that passion into a sustainable career.

My love for film and photography started at 13, when I got my first GoPro. That spark grew into freelancing through my teens and early twenties, and eventually into starting a small marketing agency with friends. It wasn’t enough to live on just yet, so I balanced part-time jobs while chasing every creative opportunity I could.

Encouraged by my family, I shifted gears and pursued a career in nursing at Florida State. But when I was faced with clinical requirements that conflicted with my personal health beliefs, I made the difficult decision to step away. At the time, it felt like I was giving up on a stable future, but in hindsight, it was the best decision I ever made.

I was lost, confused, and broke. During this time, my favorite coffee shop, The Fix, gave me a job to get back on my feet. That small lifeline opened the door to a dream job: a full-time media role at Ryan Hughes Design, where I got the chance to turn my passion into a full-time career, all while learning, creating, and growing in ways I never imagined.

Looking back, what once felt like failure was really redirection. Every twist, every setback, every odd job in between led me here. I’m deeply grateful for the people and opportunities that pushed me forward, and for the chance to build a life around the passion that’s been with me since I first picked up that GoPro.

Today, I’m lucky enough to film the coolest pools on the planet, while still freelancing and chasing creative opportunities worldwide.