In this video I’m sharing the real story of why I resigned from my elementary art teaching job—even though it was stable, “perfect on paper,” and honestly a really good gig. I talk through what was going on behind the scenes, what I was craving creatively, and why I finally decided to take the leap from art teacher to full-time maker. If you’re feeling that tension between security and your actual passions, I made this for you. In the second half, I get super practical and lay out how I prepared to leave. I walked through getting my finances in order, dealing with the not-fun reality of health insurance (womp womp), and figuring out what kind of art I wanted to make and how I’d realistically make it in my cozy backyard studio. I also talk about income—how I planned to make money, why a part-time job can be a smart bridge, and the importance of having a fallback plan. My biggest takeaway: don’t burn bridges. Teaching jobs will still exist, but your creative life deserves a real shot too.