We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some thought-provoking and some funny. We’ve highlighted a cross section of those responses below.
Tori Scott
When I was younger, I often expected my adulthood to reflect the experiences of those around me and what society expected from a young Black person growing up in a low-income environment. I along with many others believed that our destiny was to be nothing more than a product of that environment, but I soon realized how harmful that frame of thinking was. Read more>>
Michelle VanTine
One area of thinking I’ve outgrown is believing that being talented at something will make you successful at it. Growing up, my sister was gifted doctor kits, and I was gifted art sets. I was always told I was a talented artist. But the way I arrived here wasn’t how I imagined. Talent only takes you so far. Read more>>
Elizabeth Davidson
As a child, I believed that I wasn’t naturally talented because everything in the classroom felt like a struggle, even music, which I was determined to master. I worked endlessly on homework and practicing, often overwhelmed by frustration and tears over minor details. I thought that if something didn’t come easily, it meant I was failing. Read more>>
Cristina Martinez
I used to believe that “failure” existed. When you’re young, you are shown a structure or a “box” that you need to be in so that you can succeed and be okay. With time, I’ve learned that staying in a box is detrimental to growth. Especially in the creative and business sense. Read more>>
