Voices // Jack, Jill, & Me
03 // by Anika Zebron
Jack of All Trades, Master of None—Jill was equally in danger of this anonymity. And ever since I was old enough to understand the phrase, I feared my fate would be no better. Decently good at lots of things, from music to art to sports to academics, I never saw myself as one of The Gifted. ?
Wish as I might, I didn’t seem to be Mozart, and soberingly, that seemed to be my own fault. I had this tendency to pursue creative hobbies for a time, but never achieve true mastery. This is essentially the norm in liberal arts education, however, for me it planted a seed of fear that I’d be doomed to normal. Worse, my goals were increasingly overshadowed by imposter syndrome.?
Creativity was my one love, however. That never changed, though it morphed into a variety of forms that felt disconnected for a period of time: writing, drawing challenges, painting, tackling (and pulling hair out over) the Adobe Suite. What I didn’t understand was my creativity itself was “to blame,” but that it wasn’t atrophying, it was strengthening—though on its own agenda.
Then a curious plot twist occurred. I transitioned careers into a role that combines all of those seemingly random skills I learned along the way, Design Director at Seattle-based creative agency, Oak & Melanin. I’m also working on a collaborative music album with my husband & family, and many of those same “disconnected” skills are the very ones needed.
Jack, Jill, and I can rest assured: all those trades synched. ?
I’ve always been one to dream; I hope to have many new creative pursuits to chase and celebrate in the future—mastery included. For anyone who’s ever felt the same dread of being scattered in focus because new things are often calling, I say lean into that desire to explore because it just might be leading to the exact body of work you’re truly meant to create. ?
-------???
Anika Zebron is Design Director at Oak and Melanin and an art instructor.?
FollowAnika on Instagram @anikazebron?
Artwork by Douglas Montague
------
Voices is a creative collaboration project started by Douglas Montague on Instagram. See the original post here.