We connected with some of the most resilient folks in the community and one of the most insightful questions we had an opportunity to ask centered around whether there was ever a time they almost gave up. Highlighting some of the responses below.

Tamira Wells

Yes, there were definitely times I almost gave up. When I was laid off right before giving birth to my son, and again when I faced another layoff shortly after his autism diagnosis, it felt like everything was crashing down at once. On top of that, I went through postpartum, financial struggles, and even faced eviction. Read More>>

Tash Jordan

I have wanted to give up numerous times but I keep pushing forward because I got no choice. You can quit for a day, a week, or even a month. We do need breaks to reset and as a matter of fact, I’m about to take some time away myself. After the pause, the marathon continues. Giving up completely leads to nothing but regret. Read More>>

Terrance Stone

Plenty of times, I think give your creators, grace, what we do everyday getting the world to love our passion is a long road for some, and a short road for others. We go against the normal way of living which definitely comes with a larger reward in life but in the beginning its hard to stay inspired especially when money is low. Read More>>

Maggie O’Gara

Literally all the time, or like once a week probably. I feel like that’s a common thing as an actor, it really tests your resilience. There’s lot of rejection and difficult days, and the mental tenacity you have to have is one of the hardest parts of the industry and being a creative in general. Read More>>

Priscilla Ahn

Absolutely, I moved to LA when I was 19. I had a little bit of money saved up that I lived off of for the first year while I played open mics almost every night, hoping to get a bigger, possibly paying, show. Eventually my money ran out and I got a job working as a waitress during the breakfast and lunch shifts. Read More>>

Grace Mitchell

Yes, I’ve wanted to give up many times, but I never have. I’ve always just done what I had to do to get by until the next thing happened… and the next thing… and the next. I’ve had so many odd jobs while living in LA, trying to do music at the same time, which any entertainer in LA knows is near impossible. Read More>>

michael mcneil

Yes. There was a stretch in L.A. when invoices lagged, rent was real, and I seriously considered moving to Vegas to cut costs. L.A. will test you—financially and mentally. I almost tapped out. Instead, I worked overtime at the VA to afford the expensive gear I needed and rebuild my credit—thankfully, I didn’t have to grind like that for long. Read More>>

Haowei Zhang

I think the closest I ever came to giving up was right after I graduated. Around that time, my family went through an unexpected financial crisis, and my parents were no longer able to support me in any way. Suddenly, I had to face the world completely on my own. Read More>> 

Beth Navarro

In 2017, something happened to me…. god I’ve stopped and started writing this sentence about ten times now. Okay. In 2017, I found out someone in my life, someone I should have trusted, did something criminal, terrible, scary. I lost any amount of certainty I had. I had to completely start over. There were some very dark moments. The page saved me. Read More>>

Dayren Santamaria

Yes. When I was about six, I knew I wanted to play the violin. At almost eight, I began my musical journey at the Vocational School of Arts in Matanzas as a boarding student. The first two years were fine, but by the third, I began to feel the absence of my parents’ and grandmother’s unconditional love and attention. Read More>>

Arman Sayat

Yes. More than once, to be honest. I think every person—especially those walking a creative path—eventually finds themselves at a crossroads where they have to ask: Is this still worth it? Is this what I’m meant to do, or have I been chasing a dream that doesn’t want me back? Filmmaking, for all its beauty, is one of the most unforgiving crafts out there. Read More>>

Chelsea J

There was a time where I was really at a point where I did not know what direction my sound or my career was going. I had just completed my first EP “Baby Girl” after releasing a stream of singles, and I got a placement on All-American on the CW. Read More>>

Alan D’Auria

No, I never really gave up because I know giving up is not an option for me. Still, I fought a lot with that idea, especially a few months after moving to the US when I was literally living day to day with zero dollars. It was a tough moment, but I kept pushing through because I believe that persistence is everything. Read More>>

Anita Hartog

Absolutely. I was 18 when I hit my lowest point. I didn’t see a way out and, honestly, I didn’t want to keep going. Read More>>

Grace Patterson

I have definitely had moments where it has crossed my mind. But deep down, I know there’s no quitting something that’s a part of you. I remember an old acting coach once told me, ‘Artists are born, not made,’ and I’ve carried that with me ever since. Read More>>

Bianca Turner

I believe most artists face the urge to give up more often than they’d care to admit. I’ve been there—more times than I can count. But every time that thought creeps in, I brush it aside, because deep down I know: I’ll never quit. It’s simply not in my nature. Read More>>

Luigie “LUGO” Gonzalez

There have been many moments in my career when I seriously thought about giving up. I’ve had seasons of great success—but I’ve also faced years where it felt like I had lost everything. At times, I truly believed my career was over. The pain and uncertainty were almost unbearable. The truth is, it’s not all Grammy nights and spotlight moments. Read More>>

Isabelle Veser

I would lie if I say there was no time when I wanted to give up. There were many times but at the same time It has never came up in my mind to cancel everything. Because I knew that music is my first and last love. And wouldn’t you do anything for the one you adore and love? Read More>>

Khalia Edmond

Yes losing my mother affected me in a way that reshaped my entire life. I never thought I had an identity outside of being her daughter. Read More>>

Emerson Majano

Yes, there was a time I almost gave up. I remember being completely drained mentally, physically, and emotionally. I was stuck in a routine that felt never ending working long hours, studying late into the night, then doing it all over again. It felt like no matter how much I sacrificed, nothing was changing. Read More>>

Gustavo David

Yes, ABSOLUTELY…thousands of times. I’ve wished that I had everything figured out from the moment I was born, especially when it comes to my career. That every opportunity would be handed to me just because I had a certain last name or knew the right people. I have zero shame in admitting that I’ve dreamed of having it all given to me, laid out perfectly. Read More>>

Maria Hedrick

Certainly. There have been 3 key moments in my 15+ years working for myself that I have wanted to give up and walk away from this whole thing. The most recent moment was last year, around February 2024. Things were shifting, but I couldn’t make sense of what was happening. Read More>>