Building a Career from Passionate Interests

I never set out to build a career in AI. As a kid, I was covered in paint splatters and glued to craft projects. I thought I’d grow up to be an artist. There’s a story behind why I never pursued art professionally (maybe I’ll share that one day). Then, in middle school, I discovered the PC Logo tool 🐢 (IYKYK): making crazy patterns with LT and RT commands, felt just as magical as painting. That creative spark led me to notice something else: I was inherently drawn to physics and math, balancing equations and unraveling logical puzzles- while chemistry and biology never held my attention. My brain craved analytical challenges, and every time I debugged a code or solved a tricky math problems, I felt that same thrill I once got from painting. One of my mentors put it perfectly: “Your superpower lies in what sets you apart. With limited time that all of us have, channel your energy into what makes you unique.” For me, that meant leaning into my love for math and computational thinking, and the joy of discovering how machines learn. Here’s how those pieces came together, and how they might help you find your own path: → Embrace your first sparks. Remember the activities that lit you up, whether that was painting watercolor landscapes or guiding a Logo turtle to draw circles. → Notice your natural inclinations. Which subjects or tasks pull you in? For me, physics equations and algorithmic puzzles were irresistible; biology diagrams, not so much. → Celebrate small wins. Every time you solve a problem, automate a task, or complete a creative project, you build confidence, and momentum. → Lean into what makes you unique. Your blend of strengths, like creativity plus analytics, or storytelling plus data, can become your superpower. → Keep experimenting. Passion often emerges at the intersection of unexpected interests. Try new tools, challenge yourself, and pay attention to where you lose track of time. Your journey won’t look like anyone else’s- and THAT'S the point. Whether you’re mixing paints or writing your first lines of code, those early curiosities can point you toward work you love. ❤️

Gone are the days of a linear career path. Not long ago, the idea of a successful career followed a simple formula: Choose a study field > land a job > climb the ladder > retire. But today, career paths are anything but linear. More professionals are weaving between industries, blending their passions and redefining success. I went from climbing the corporate ladder as an Accountant, to taking a leap into tech and creativity — aligning my career with my passions and purpose. At school, I gravitated towards structure and logic, which led me to study accounting. It seemed like a practical and stable choice — one that promised job security and a clear trajectory. But at the same time, I craved the creativity I found through studying art, IT and photography. So I decided to pursue a double degree in business and design. While studying at uni I kickstarted my career at an accounting firm, getting a head start in the corporate world. Meanwhile on the design side, a Fine Arts assignment led me to launch my photography side hustle. I soon found myself fitting creativity into the margins of my finance career and defying the belief that Accountants couldn’t be creative. I knew I had more to give beyond a traditional corporate career, but I wasn’t sure how to blend my skills and passions in a way that felt authentic. Then came the opportunity to work at Canva. This was one of those sliding doors moments. I found my sweet spot at a company that is values-driven and where I could contribute to doing good in the world, while seamlessly merging my analytical and creative skillsets. The transition from corporate to tech was huge, but it unlocked a whole new level of growth. I now apply my financial expertise while being surrounded by creativity, innovation and a culture that encourages out-of-the-box thinking. If you’re feeling stuck or considering a career pivot, here is some advice: — Your passions matter. If you feel pulled in multiple directions, explore your intuition. Unexpected opportunities may follow. — Skills are transferable.  The analytical thinking I developed in public practice helped me thrive in tech, just as my creative background has shaped my approach to problem-solving. — Side hustles can open doors.  My photography business isn’t just a creative outlet — it has built entrepreneurial skills, connections, and confidence. — Growth happens outside your comfort zone.  The world of tech was unknown, but taking the leap led to profound learning and career development. — You don’t have to have it all figured out.  Each challenge offers learning and adds to your story. You know I love a unique personal brand! Your career doesn’t have to fit into a box — there’s value in taking the unconventional path. If you’re currently navigating a career change or thinking about one, I’d love to hear your story and help unblock your next step. Photo taken on my third day at Canva — which seems like a lifetime ago!

When I was in law school, I was conditioned to believe that success meant one thing: Big Law. The message was clear—if you didn’t land a prestigious position at a large firm, you had somehow failed. Now that I’ve built a fulfilling career outside of Big Law, I realize how wrong that narrative was. Big Law is great for some people, but for many, it’s not the right fit. And that’s okay. Here’s the truth: law school students should focus less on the prestige of their first job and more on gaining diverse experiences. Clerk for a judge. Work at a small firm. Intern with a public defender’s office or an advocacy organization. Shadow attorneys in different practice areas. Every experience is a chance to discover what lights your fire and what doesn’t. This career is stressful, and the paycheck doesn’t always match the sacrifices we make. What will sustain you isn’t prestige—it’s passion. Passion for the work you do. Passion for the clients you serve. Passion for the difference you make in the world. That passion is what gets you through the anxiety, the late nights, and the tough days early in your career. So, to every law student and recent graduate out there: don’t let yourself be boxed in by outdated definitions of success. Forge your own path, explore your interests, and focus on what truly matters—finding a career that fulfills you and allows you to make a difference. The legal world is vast, and the opportunities are endless when you follow your passion.

There’s a different kind of peace in waking up excited for work — when what you do 9 to 5 doesn’t feel like an obligation, but a choice. That’s what happens when you manage to monetize your hobby — when the lines between “work” and “passion” start to blur. For me, it started back in college. I loved creating videos — no strategy, no pressure, just curiosity and joy. Over time, that hobby started paying me. By the time I graduated, I never had to ask my parents for money again — my content took care of it. That’s when I realized how powerful it is to build something around what you love. If you’re wondering where to start, here’s what helped me 👇 🎯 1. Start small but stay consistent – Don’t wait for the perfect setup or idea. Just begin. 💡 2. Share what you genuinely enjoy – Your authenticity will connect faster than any algorithm. 🧩 3. Build skills around your passion – Editing, storytelling, marketing — they’ll multiply your opportunities. 🌱 4. Monetize ethically – Collaborate, consult, teach, or sell something that aligns with your values. And one day, you’ll realize, you’re no longer forcing yourself to work late; you’re excited to keep going. Because when your hobby becomes your work, you don’t chase weekends — you build dreams every day. #PassionToProfession #MonetizeYourHobby

There isn’t a 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 path to any career. It might be hard to believe, but whatever you think you want to pursue as a career 𝘕𝘖𝘞 can change anytime two years down the line. For more than three years of my life, I was set on becoming a 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁. A reporter, a writer, and an interviewer. Writing was what I liked to do so that was the direction of where I planned my future. I took three years of journalism classes in high school, took on internships in writing and public relations, and learned a variety of different softwares with graphic design that are applicable to journalism. Until I realized I was tired of it. I couldn’t see myself writing other people’s stories for the rest of my life. Yes, I liked writing, talking to people, and researching but I 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 in this career path in the long run. So I decided to pivot into marketing/communications/entrepreneurship and utilize the same writing skills and other skills that I gained through my other passion projects to create a new path. It’s common to have this happen through out your uni years, but definitely scarier to have happen as a full-time job. So if you’re still currently a student, I encourage you to just try things out. You’ll never know if something isn’t meant for you until you give it a try. The earlier you give your interests a try, the faster you’ll be able to niche down what you see yourself pursuing in the long run. If you have a limited amount of time right now (3rd/4th year) before graduation, here’s what I’d do: ► Try 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀 with projects to see where your skills best fit on the team ► 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 with nonprofit organizations to see what you LIKE doing and what you DON’t like doing (I don’t usually recommend unpaid internships, but it’s a lower stakes role for you to see what you want to do without overly stressful responsibilities) ► 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 to see how they figured out their career path ► 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 and the roles within it. Write them down and see which one sticks out to you ► 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, because what you see yourself gearing to is usually a pretty clear sign of what you want to do in your future (or at least be of relation to) No path is linear or identical to others, trust the process and let yourself grow. Cheering for you <3 🫐 _____________ 💙 Like or share the post! ☻ Follow Arlina Yang to join my journey as a non-technical major pursuing tech