There are two pieces of advice I follow, by Mr. Jamie Hewlett:
But I guess if I had to share some advice with anyone, it would be: Never give up.
I've been to my lowest points, I've been beaten senseless, taken advantage of, picked on, shot down verbally, I've tried suicidal attempts, I've drank myself to sleep, I used to cut myself as a teen, etc. I've been through some hard shit, all because of of who I wanted to be. All my life, all I wanted to do is make cartoons, draw, or make art. It was my way of escaping the world. My mother would often times throw my work into the fireplace saying that I needed to get my head out of the clouds, that it was the reason I was failing school. In reality I was trying to ignore the bullies. Kids at school would tease me and call me a witch or say I did witchcraft because of what I would draw, which were mythological creatures, they just didn't have inspiration. My family back in Alabama doesn't believe I should excel in art, and would much rather me find a career working with computers because I'm somewhat knowledgeable about them. Just about everyone who has put me down in life, really fucked with my mentality.
But, I never gave up. Suicidal attempts became a wake of reality, people who talked down to me were starting to eat their words. I would draw every day, every minuet, of every hour. I graduated high school, I got a job and saved $900 and left for California. I had to live at a friends' house and share a room with a mattress in the corner with my little nick knacks to keep me company. The money went fast and my friendship with those friends were beginning to dwindle, but I found a job later on and I would cry every day after work cause my supervisor would scream and hit me, but I was too afraid to quit and wait for another job to come my way, so I pushed myself for two and a half years at that shit job, moved in with my boyfriend with whom I started a relationship with the year I came to Cali. Started college, got my license, and got an even better job just recently and now I'm saving up for my own car. Now, I can call myself a Suicide Girl Hopeful, and people are buzzing for commission artwork from me. I'm only half way there guys to becoming something I have always dreamed of, and when I am nominated for best animation of the year, I'm gonna give a big "FUCK YOU" speech to all the ones who tried to kill my dream. Names and all. I don't care if I have to recite a list of the assholes who hurt me, I will do it. Cause that's my dream too. But non the less I won't forget those who have picked me up when I was at my lowest in life.
So never give up guys. If I can do it, you can too <3
