We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some thought-provoking and some funny. We’ve highlighted a cross section of those responses below.
Skye Ding
As a child, I believed it wasn’t okay to make mistakes. I thought everything had to be perfect the first time. Over time, I’ve learned that mistakes are an important and necessary part of the process. They teach you valuable lessons, refine your ideas, and help you grow. Especially in design, some of the best outcomes come from moments of trial and error. Read more>>
Luying (Olivia) Wang
When I was younger, I used to believe that talent and conviction alone were enough to carve out a place in this world — that if you worked hard and stayed true to your vision, everything else would follow. But once I stepped into the film industry, I realized that talent is only a small part of the equation. Read more>>
Jillian Lapedus
As a child, I believed that being strong meant doing everything on my own — that I had to have all the answers and make everything perfect. Over time, I’ve learned that real strength comes from connection — from trusting others, collaborating, and allowing space for authenticity instead of perfection. Read more>>
Natalie Rodriguez
Looking back at my childhood and teenage years, I wish I could hug that younger version of myself. I would tell her that there is always hope and that the pain and hardships she faced would not stop her from pursuing her dreams. I would remind her that no one is destined to be “doomed” or to repeat toxic family cycles. Read more>>
Eli Berchan
As a child, I believed I wasn’t good enough—because that’s what some of my teachers and superiors made me feel. I struggled with traditional subjects like chemistry and physics, and rather than being encouraged, I was dismissed. I carried the weight of those labels: not smart enough, not special, destined to fail. But life has its own curriculum. Read more>>
Adrian Uriostegui
There’s a sense of wonder that I used to believe was a fleeting feeling in me. That once it was gone, it wouldn’t return. There’s a lot of heartbreak and despair in the world, and it’s easy to get lost in the tragedy. What I’ve come to learn is that wonder isn’t something you feel, it’s something you create. Read more>>
Siobhán O’Loughlin
That I am shy. Because I WAS shy. I really was. I’m just…the absolute opposite now. Read more>>
SUUVI
That my worth depended on achievement. As a child, I grew up believing that love and value had to be earned through perfection: through how well I performed, how much I accomplished, how “exceptional” I could be. It took years to unlearn that. Now, I understand that my worth isn’t conditional. Read more>>
Yefri Munoz
As a child, I believed my feelings didn’t matter. That crying wasn’t an option and I had to be the strong one in my family. But I was just a kid. I should’ve been allowed to worry about kid things, not survival. Looking back, I see that adults failed me, I didn’t fail. I survived. Read more>>
Lauren Kleeman
Limits. Okay, not literally – I know there are external limits, but I’m talking about the ones I put on myself. As a kid, I believed those barriers imposed on me. Over time I’ve quieted that inner voice telling me I can’t do it and learned to trust in my own abilities and ambition. Read more>>
