What's the point in a personal website?
Creating a personal website that isn't selling something or educating people feels self-indulgent. What makes you think people are interested in what you've got going on? But really, that's just the mean girl voice in my head. This isn't for other people, it's for me! A place where all of my creative works can live together.
Before, I had a tiktok for dancing, an instagram for paintings, and would publish poems on Medium. I still have those outlets and will continue to use them, but now I have created my own little world to access all of those at the same time! I am so excited to keep growing my collection of art, and even if just one person sees my work and resonates, that's enough for me.
A lil bit of my story...
When I was 25, I quit my office job and took some time off, for the first time in almost ten years, to figure out what I really wanted to do. I never had the opportunity to not work - and it was weird.
I started working in restaurants at 16 then continued waiting tables and bartending as I started college. At 18, I was bound and determined to become a nurse, and by 20 I had been admitted into the nursing program on the first try! I did well academically, but struggled in clinicals - in truth, my heart wasn't in it and I had a hard time accessing empathy for strangers. By the end of the first year, I decided nursing wasn't the route for me. I even made double sure when they offered me my seat again the next year; I went to the orientation and was satisfied with not returning, but ultimately, I was crushed.
So, there I was, 22 with an associates in arts, and a masters in disappointment. I worked a few odd jobs, and then landed a receptionist position for a local insurance agency at 23. I was catapulted into a whole new world of customer service; no more were customer complaints resolved with a beer on the house or a half price app.
I knew almost immediately that I did NOT want to stay a receptionist for long, so within the first 3 months I was a licenced insurance agent. I did well at that job, especially once I wasn't answering and routing literally hundreds of calls a day. Unfortunately, office life is just not for me - I've tried three separate times; I'm calling it a spade.
Anyways, at 25 I finally got to a point where, if I had to work the rest of my life, I wanted to do something I love. After escaping corporate America ( I think for the second time at that point) I started working for a local farmers market. Here's the thing: if you would rather work 10 hour shifts outside than sit at a desk for 8 hours, you might not be cut out for office life. Obviously, working at a farmers market doesn't pay all the bills.
So, I applied at an art studio, and I got the job! I started out assisting other instructors, then eventually moved up to instuctor as well. I truly did love getting paid to paint, but I couldn't help but feel like the industry put art in a box. I felt watered down in a way. But, that was the first time I had really had a job that didn't feel like work.
The next time I felt that way was the first time I was on stage at a club. It was the night of my 27th birthday and I was bartending, as usual. Within a few hours of opening, we were approaching midnight and the girls had set me up with the dj to dance a set on stage.
I played on the pole from time to time - before we would open or after close waiting on a manager. But I had never been on stage, in basically a bikini and 7 inch platform ankle boots, with a see-through fur trimmed robe. It was... quite the sight. But I rocked it and of course everyone threw money on me, it was my birthday after all :)
From that moment, it was over with. I loved being on stage, and I loved the art of pole dancing even more. I wanted to learn it all - spins, sits, vortex, hell I wanted to hang from the ceiling! I got a pole at home and danced in clubs for most of 2023. I loved it. So many stories o.O
Fast forward to 2024: recently widowed and unemployed at the ripe age of 28 - but that's another story for another day. I spent the first part of the year as a hermit, found a little of myself again through the summer, and finally started feeling like integrating back out into the world, when I was faced with an age old question: what do you want to do with your life?
I think I already established my opposition to office life, so that was definitely not on the list of options. I also knew I didn't want to just get a job, just make money and I didn't want to go back to hospitality for sure. That's all of my work experience - except painting and dancing. Not to mention, I've never been paid for any of my writing, so that was a long shot.
What I did know, was that I needed a portfolio of some kind. Something I could direct people to and give them a sense of who I am as an artist. I started this site originally as a live resume, but I didn't want to limit my examples or tailor it all the time. I finally settled on creating a personal webite to hold and showcase my work, no matter the medium. I want to have one place that I can share my passions, with or without viewership.
That brings us to today; I've gotten my group fitness certification and my end goal is to own a pole studio, maybe even a club! :) However, to get my next certs, I need a job to pay for them. We are also trying to move next year, so right now I feel like I've completed step one in getting the group fitness. Next step is getting a job to save and get the next cert, which will either be personal training or pole instructor. Either one of those will help me reach my ultimate goal, just one step at a time.
xo