A Page in My Field Guide

Believing in yourself, even if you don't know how where you are headed.

After college, I landed what everyone called a “dream job” at an award-winning design studio in San Diego. I showed up in my thrifted vintage outfits, ready to create, but the excitement evaporated almost instantly. They had me spending an entire month on a single logo. It was tedious, soul-crushing work. I spent my days watching the clock, waiting for permission to go home.

Then, I caught a horrible cold.

I remember sitting on my couch with my sketchbook, watching I Love Lucy reruns in the middle of a Tuesday. I had a sudden, sharp realization: I love this. There was something about those old shows that pulled at a childhood thread - I had always wanted to work in the movie industry, but I knew nothing about that world. Everyone was so proud of my “prestigious” job, but I was miserable in my little cubicle prison.

Later that spring, the owner offered us Friday off because a television show, Silk Stockings, had rented our studio to film. There was no way I was staying home. I showed up, talked to the crew, helped them rearrange the furniture, and ate from the craft services table. It was the most alive I’d felt in years.

I knew then: I had to move to Hollywood.