Ganz๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ
โDonโt bite the hand that feeds,โ my late grandmother used to say. But perhaps the modern twist is, โDonโt blindly listen to the hand that points.โ
Thereโs a lot of advice out there, much of it unsolicited, especially for young people who are curious, ambitious, and trying to figure out their path. And letโs be honest, some of that advice is well-meaning, but much of it is rooted in fear, cynicism, or simply a lack of imagination.
No one can predict the future. Not your friend, not your teacher, not even the so-called experts. And the truth is, the only person who can decide if something is worth pursuing is you.
If youโre deeply curious about something, if the thought of diving in lights a fire in you and youโre willing to put in the work, the outcome matters less than the journey. Whether it becomes a three-year stint or a twenty-year career, youโll be able to look back and see the impact you made on others, and the growth you experienced within yourself.
No one asked
to make the video Iโm sharing with you today. He poured in his own time, his own effort, his own resources because he wanted to create something fun. Something that could help others communicate what visual effects are, and why they matter.
This is what curiosity and passion can do. They inspire. They build. They ripple outward, touching lives in ways that go far beyond the work itself. And discouraging that kind of spark? It serves no one. You gain nothing from telling a young person their dream isnโt worth it.
Iโve always believed that discouraging young people gains you nothing. Itโs easy to point out the difficulties, to play the realist, or to tell someone, โItโs not worth it.โ But that kind of negativity doesnโt inspire, it doesnโt solve, and it certainly doesnโt create. What it does is sow doubt where there could have been courage, curiosity, and exploration.
For those who are considering a path, whether itโs VFX, writing, teaching, or anything else, the most honest advice I can offer is this: ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐. The path might be difficult, but every step will teach you something. Even if things donโt turn out as expected, the path is still yours. Who you become along the way is the real reason for taking it.
And if you ever find yourself offering advice, remember this: the world doesnโt need more voices telling young people what they canโt or shouldnโt do. It needs voices lifting them up, challenging them to think bigger, and supporting their curiosity.