5 Reasons Why Highschoolers Should Start Their Own Business

Most of you probably don't know this, but I am a home schooled highschooler. Mind blowing, right? But, what made me want to start my art career this early? What made me think I was ready, when I hadn't gone to art school and mostly just doodled in my spare time? Why would I be willing to dive into this scary business of illustrating a children's book? Well, to be honest, I didn't think I was ready, not even in the slightest. It was super scary getting started, and it will continue to be scary until I am done with the illustrations for this book. After all, I'm only fifteen. How could I possibly satisfy this person's needs?

But here are the reasons why I will never ever regret getting a head start on my illustrating career in highschool, and you won't either.

1. Highschoolers have time

Now, I realize that a lot of highschoolers really don't feel like they have time, between classes and homework and socializing, but don't you think that you'll have even less time to start your dream career while having to work full time or even part time at a job you hate? If you start up your dream business in highschool, maybe you won't ever need to work at McDonald's!

2. They aren't under pressure to support themselves

This sort of goes along with the last one, but seriously. In highschool you really can afford to mess up! You don't have to have two jobs just in case one doesn't work out.

3. The experience gained is priceless

By making mistakes, you gain experience that you can't get anywhere else. What better time to do that than when you are in highschool and don't have to support yourself? Also, what if you decide you want to do something different with your life? Rather than changing majors in the middle of college and wasting a bunch of time and money, why not really test your limits in highschool?

4. Old people love to see young people do just about anything

Since not a lot of highschoolers start their own business, if yours does end up doing well, there is a lot of potential for getting out there in the media, just for being young. It's crazy, and not fully fair, but hey, take whatever you can get. Plus, your parents will be supah pwoud of you.

5. It will set you in the right direction

I don't know about other highschoolers, but I happen to be scared out of my mind of the idea of growing up and having responsibilities. So, what do I do? I throw a ton of responsibilities onto my shoulders and hope for the best! Logical. Right. But actually, in the midst of this hulabaloo, I seem to have found a light. I can't even believe how privileged I am for having such a head start on my dream career. I am comforted by the knowledge that I have a few years to grow even more, and get even better jobs, before I even have to worry about finances and money. No matter what your dream is, fellow highschoolers, I encourage you to find a way to make it a reality even in highschool. Or, if you don't know what you want to do, I would have to tell you that now is the time for experimenting! If you are thinking of getting a job at McDonalds, I hope that you might reconsider following your passion while you can, because it will be so gratifying to actually make money by doing what you love, no matter if it is the same amount that you would make working at a fast food joint.

If I can do it, you can too! I wish you luck on this incredible, mind numbing, awful, terrifying, wonderful journey, where you will get even less sleep than you are getting now. But in the end, you can thank me. Because following your dream is the most amazing thing, no matter the consequences.

Leave your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to tell me what to talk about next.

How to Punch Through Artist's Block

As most of you know, I recently got a job illustrating a children's book for someone. See here.

After I finish that, I will be full on helping my mother make a project that she's been working on for YEARS, and that she is counting on me to illustrate as well.

Not only is all this a lot of pressure for a highschooler, but I also haven't been able to work on my own projects, like, at all. Not that I don't have time, but that I only feel like I have so much creative energy in a day. Maybe that is just me, or maybe it is partly (or all) stress, but I've recently just felt tired all the time.

This begs the question... How do adults do it? How do full time artists manage to get through this kind of exhausting artist's block, to be able to support themselves by doing art?

The trick that works, in my research and experience, is taking breaks. I think they say something like taking a five-ten minute break every half hour. But it is important what you do during those breaks. Here are some suggestions:

Take a walk.

I know you have most definitely heard of this one before, and maybe you think it only applies to someone who is fortunate enough to live near someplace pretty. I happen to be one of these people, and I am grateful for that. But just getting away from your computer for five minutes is what we are trying to accomplish here, so that isn't necessary. All you really need is to get the blood back into your brain again so you can think more clearly, and so any kind of light exercise should work.

Eat.

Now, I am not encouraging obesity or anything, but if it possible for you to break up your daily meals into healthy snacks to give you a boost throughout the day, go for it. For me, eating even a small amount just gives me an energy boost, and so if I can get six energy boosts rather than three, all the better. I would highly reccomend cheese and apples, they are fabulous together.

Drink water.

I don't drink nearly enough water during the day, which is scientifically proven to cause headaches and brain malfunctions. And you do not need brain malfunctions when you are scrambling to finish a big project.

Nap.

You most likely aren't getting enough sleep. 'Nuff said.

I hope this was helpful to all of you struggling with artist's block, but don't be selfish! Share your own tips for how to cope with this monster in the comments, because I need the help just as much as you. Also, if you want me to blog about something particular related to illustrating or drawing on the iPad Pro, make sure to tell me! I am always looking for suggestions.