Career Roadmap
Abigail's work combines: Music, Entrepreneurship, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Cultural Anthropology
The Evergreen State College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Musicians & Singers:
High School
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree: Whatever inspires you
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I wrote my first song at 5 years old on a blue playschool piano.
2.
At about 7 people started to tell me it would be really hard to be a musician when I grew up.
3.
I had what I like to call the "Are you my career path" period.
4.
Self released an EP called Growing Pains and Grace for my Senior Project at 18.
5.
Realized my junior year of College that I didn't really know what I wanted to do for a living.
6.
Got a job as a receptionist putting my life in the default "grown up" position.
7.
Had an epiphany, I was letting other people define my possibilities.
8.
Quit my day job and started the adventure of being a full time musician.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You should find someone to take care of you because you'll never be able to make it on your own doing that.
How I responded:
When that fear bubbles up I've gotten to the point I can recognize it and say "Ok, old friend, I get you're trying to keep me safe. I get that you want to help me avoid disappointment. What would really disappoint me, though, is never taking this risk." And then I do something that just gets me out of that doubtful space, like going for a walk or watching a documentary on one of my heroes.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I stopped referring to myself as a starving artist. Instead of doing what everyone else was doing I looked at what I was really good at (writing songs, small performances) and I came up with creative ways to use those skills.
It's easy to get caught in the need to prove yourself, but that's just another trap. If someone doesn't like what you do or who you are, don't give them the power to change you. There are plenty of other people out there craving what you got.