Written by Kathryn Holeton, Brand Designer for Musicians and Writers
Kathryn Holeton is a multi-talented creative with a knack for poetry and lyrics. She is a Brand Designer for Creatives, has collaborated on several musical projects, and is the author of "You're a Deity: An Inspirational Poetry Collection."
Creators have been told most of their lives that they can’t do what they want as their career, that somehow, it’s a fantasy. Only the lucky ones ever reach this goal when there are many out there succeeding. They don’t have a huge social media following, email list, or that big of a network, yet they have overcome regardless of their circumstances.
If you’re a creator, then you know what I mean. And let me say this for all of us, we are tired of not being taken seriously when we tell people our dreams. The late nights, panic attacks, frustrations, long days, eureka moments, breaking even, finding your voice, and standing up for what you believe in takes courage.
It takes bravery, raw and authentic, to pursue what you want out of your life. And no one can take away your dreams or passions.
I am not writing this to guilt trip you into some salesy scheme. I am writing this because I have seen so many creatives struggle against their circumstances to pursue their dreams. I’ve known a few that have given up in silence, which is wrong.
So, I’m inviting you to share your story, what you’ve overcome, what you’re proud of, and how you’ve grown from your failures. Share your biggest drives, passions, and who you are. Because you’re a stronger person than you think you are. You are stronger than what you’ve been told. You are the most resilient person in the world, and you deserve to be heard.
Use the hashtag "standup overcome" to share your stories on social media. You can also share your story anonymously by going to my form here.
This is my "standup overcome" story
1. Believe it or not, I made it through 4 years of college without internet at home
As you know, everything runs on the Internet. Not to mention, professors primarily communicate through email. I did have a smartphone, but I only had 5GB of data on it for one month, which wasn’t enough to accomplish much other than submitting my assignments.
I also had the option of getting a hotspot from the college, but there was a waitlist for months because I wasn’t the only one without internet at home. I was taking 5 to 6 classes each semester, and I had a ridiculous amount of work that was due daily, so I needed to think of something. To get around the internet problem, I spent a lot of time at the college, from early morning until the school closed for the day, just working on my homework.
For the numerous essays I was assigned, I would save those for when I went home. I made sure that I had the research done and citations made and saved to a flash drive before I left college for the day so that I could work on it at home. For all my other work such as quizzes and discussion posts, I would prioritize finishing those while I was at school, that way I wouldn’t need to worry about those due dates.
Not having internet at home was a struggle, but I was able to persevere despite it. I made sure to keep my grades as high as I could, the lowest was a mid C. I graduated in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical communication.
2. After I graduated college, I applied for jobs that would use my degree
I spent 4 years and a lot of money to get it. I might as well use it, if you know what I mean. I applied for at least 200 jobs right after I graduated. (I wish I was exaggerating; I used to have a spreadsheet.) I never received an email or an interview request. I am extremely thankful that an organization I was in when I was in college offered me a part-time job otherwise I wouldn’t have had any income.
I proceeded to spend the next 2 years applying for jobs and never received so much as a second glance. I decided that I deserved more than the constant ghosting. So, I started my service-based business as a brand designer for creatives.
3. Starting my business has had its own fair share of challenges
I had to learn basics, such as using social media. *Side note, I grew up without social media. I’ve been on Facebook and Instagram for about 4 years now. I’m not upset about not having social media profiles when I was in grade school. I was bullied a lot, and I didn’t want to be bothered once I was home.
Side note aside, after learning about different social platforms, I also spent a lot of time learning how to navigate the world of design, such as social media content creation, website design, and of course, brand design. Working as a freelancer wasn’t always easy. Clients weren’t consistent.
Social media engagement never seemed to pick up. My website stayed at 0 views for months. I would spend days and nights working and researching to better my craft and to learn something that would help boost my brand awareness.
But what I learned from the low income and the constant struggle is that adaptability is key. Being able to persevere, even when my situation felt stagnant, has helped me grow in ways I never dreamed of. I would never trade those experiences if I was offered the opportunity.
End: I am grateful for the support of my friends and family. I would not have made it this far if it wasn’t for them. I wouldn’t be the person I am now if they hadn’t been there for me.
I invite you to share your story with the hashtag "standup overcome."
You deserve to share your story, regardless of what others might think. You have experienced events that no one else has, and you deserve to be heard, recognized, and more importantly, understood.
Share your story on social media with the hashtag "standup overcome," or you can share anonymously here.
Read more from Kathryn Holeton
Kathryn Holeton, Brand Designer for Musicians and Writers
My name is Kathryn Holeton. I am a Brand Designer for musicians and writers based in Knoxville, Tennessee. I was a musician and writer for many years but found I had a knack for brand design when I was finishing up my Bachelor's in Professional and Technical Communication.
After I graduated, I worked in several industries, most notably music, poetry, and publishing, which you can read about in "My Creations."
One thing I found consistently lacking was the conversation of having a brand. No one was actively discussing this important step in the creative industries, and it annoyed me.
My mission is to help musicians and writers create a brand that supports their creative practice. Because you deserve to be successful, you deserve to grow. Your work deserves to be heard and seen.
