Follow Your Passion
By Gaby
Nine months ago, I graduated from John Carroll University in the middle of a pandemic. For four years, I studied marketing and psychology in hopes that at least one of those paths would call me. In May of 2020, although I had two degrees, I had zero desire to pursue either of them. One month later, I left my friends in Cleveland, and parents in Pittsburgh to pursue my one and only calling, the music industry.
As an identical twin, I am thankful to have someone with the same passions, desires and interests. Maddie graduated from Loyola Marymount University in LA. While she was studying there, she tried convincing me to transfer so that we could pursue music together. However, during that time in my life, I was invested in attempting to find passion in marketing or psychology. I wanted a financially stable future and I was concerned that music wouldn’t provide that. Halfway through my senior year, I was unhappy and I knew I didn’t want a future in a forced passion, so I packed up my bags and drove to LA.
Upon relocating to LA, Maddie and I lived together in a 700 sq ft studio apartment in Marina Del Rey. As terrible as sharing a small studio apartment sounds, it was ultimately empowering being completely on our own financially. Maddie received a full-time job offer from Orfium, a music management platform, as a Music Copyright Specialist where she accepted the opportunity and started quickly after graduating. During this time, I was only working part-time as a Marketing Specialist, which was a promoted position from a school internship as well as performing on live-streaming platforms for extra cash.
I continued to search for full-time work, but it was awfully difficult as the unemployment rate in LA rose to 20.9% due to COVID-19. While struggling to find a job, Maddie and I continued to write and record music, while actively posting on social media platforms. With every bar, restaurant and even coffee shop closed, it is difficult to perform and share our music with others. We bring our amps, guitars and mics to sing on Venice Beach because that is the closest we can get to performing on a stage.
After a few months of working a remote part-time job that didn’t even motivate me enough to get out of bed in the morning, Orfium started accepting referrals. Maddie submitted a referral and I started working alongside her as a Music Copyright Specialist. This opportunity allows us to work for the same company during the day, while focusing on creating our own music in the evenings and on the weekends.
We no longer live in a studio apartment and finally live more comfortably, doing what we love. We are finalizing our EP and will be releasing it in March. When bars and restaurants start opening again, we look forward to performing and sharing our music with as many people as we physically can.
I am now motivated to get out of bed every morning. I am happy. I feel accomplished. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do what I love everyday and all day. And I mean actually love, not just forcing myself to.
The purpose of this blog is to show how important it is to not force a passion. Instead of following the path you choose, because it may be easier or may provide more financial stability, follow the path that chose you. Whatever is meant to be, will be.
