Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than we realize. With the benefit of hindsight, we asked some wise and experienced members of our community whether they think they are doing what they were meant to do or told to do.

Julia Stromberg

I’m absolutely doing what I was born to do. Music has always been my calling, even though the path hasn’t always been easy and has come with plenty of tests along the way. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a family that has supported me from the very beginning. Read more>>

Lori Bousman

I’m doing what I was born to do — 100%. I spent years doing what I thought I was supposed to do, chasing stability, checking the boxes, and fitting into roles that never fully matched who I am. Those experiences shaped me, but they also made it very clear what I didn’t want. Read more>>

Angela Cervantes

From a young age, I felt a deep calling—a sense that I was meant to do something creative and meaningful. I remember telling my family, my friends, and my peers that I wanted to work with makeup. Back then, I didn’t know the term ‘makeup artist,’ so I would simply say “cosmetologist.” That was my dream. Read more>>

Jaci Marie Williams

I am now doing what I was born to do. For years, I played inside the societal box and did what I was told to do. Go to school, get the degree, work the 6 figure career, buy the house, have the family. All boxes checked. Read more>>