What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Work + Creativity

Baby me post adoption from Kharkiv, Ukraine—about 4 months into living in Maine. looking into my native country's national flower with the sunrays reflecting off the petals onto my face

When I was a kid, I thought 25 would look wildly different than it does today. Back then, my younger self imagined milestones, big achievements, and a clear path forward. Reality? It’s been messier, more complicated—and honestly, more rewarding than I could have pictured.

So here’s a letter to my younger self about work, creativity, and what it really means to grow into your potential.

A Letter to My Younger Self

Dear Jamie,

Right now you’re probably curled up in your turquoise bedroom, surrounded by orange curtains and rainbow Christmas lights, sketching in your little reading corner. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but here’s what I wish you knew:

You’re going to have a pretty average high school experience followed by a college journey that’s anything but ordinary. Along the way, some people will see your curiosity and creativity as something to take advantage of. But don’t let that dim your light.

You’ll stumble into creative outlets you never expected—photography, image creation, storytelling—and these won’t just be hobbies. They’ll become the backbone of how you express yourself and connect with others. You’ll even get to pair that creativity with award-winning research, using your talents to build so

mething meaningful.

You’ll also learn a hard truth: work without reward isn’t for you. You thrive on seeing your effort pay off, and that’s not selfish—it’s self-awareness. Some people will only cheer for you when it benefits them, but your drive to create and explore will keep your spirit alive.

Eventually, after heartbreaks and fake friendships, you’ll return to the place you once wanted to leave behind. And you’ll finally see it for what it is: home. The wild ferns behind the house, the cone flowers glowing yellow in the sun, the hummingbirds battling over your feeders—all of this beauty was always here, waiting for you to notice.

You’ll find yourself working from home, balancing social media management and digital creative projects while carving out space for your other passions. Remember that basement craft corner you loved as a kid? That space will become your sewing studio, where you create one-of-a-kind, avant-garde pieces for yourself and your closest circle.

You’ve got more potential than you realize, and every twist in the road will shape you into someone stronger, wiser, and endlessly creative.

Love,Jamie (25 years old, 08.29.25)

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’d tell my younger self, it’s this: Creativity isn’t linear, and neither is life. Your career path won’t look the way you thought it would at 10, or even at 20. And that’s the beauty of it. Every step—whether it felt like progress or not—has been part of the bigger picture.

To anyone reading this, wondering if they’re “on track”: the truth is, your track is yours alone. Work, creativity, passion, and even setbacks—they all weave together to create your story. And your story is worth telling.

adult me with long curly hair pulled back and my child also known as my cat