How do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career? Check out responses from hidden gems from our community below.

Clarissa Brooks

Risk-taking has been the driving force behind my life and career, pushing me to step out of my comfort zone and seize opportunities. Here’s my journey:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I took a bold step by dropping out of college and moving to Dallas. With limited professional experience, I secured a position as a Patient Care Coordinator at a Harvard doctor’s plastic surgery center. Concurrently, I leveraged my background in amateur social media marketing to assist the business with their online presence, despite only being compensated for my coordinator role. Read more>>

Devin Papillion | Writer + Musician

At this point, most of my life seems to be about risk.

I took a risk at the age of seven when my dad told me not to walk barefoot around the backyard as he built us a new fence; subsequently managing to drive a huge long nail straight into the bottom of my foot. Read more>>

Caris Turpen | Multi-media Artist, Writer

I have long been aware that our fears are what hold us back – from trying, from experiencing, and from finding the way out of failure, or even out of success. I have learned to trust the Universe, and, more importantly, to trust myself. If something doesn’t turn out the way I had envisioned, I have used the information to find another path. I don’t stop walking or learning. I also do my best to walk in gratitude, for all experiences are gifts, good and bad. And, you never know when something you initially evaluate as ‘bad’ will turn into the ‘blessing in disguise.’ It all works out. Read more>>