The sleepless nights. The long weekends. The moments where you feel like no matter how hard you try, your work just seems to fall flat? The low pay. The failed negotiations. The inability to answer the question “So what do you do?”

Is it worth it?

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Maybe

You get the freedom, flexibility to do what you want when you want, but you also lose the security. The stable income. The ability to talk to your friends about more or less the same things and be more or less understood.

Is it worth it?

—

Maybe

On the rare occasions. You get paid a ton of money to be doing what you’d essentially do for free. On other occasions, you don’t get paid enough to do what you absolutely hate. “I didn’t spend a decade of my left perfecting my craft to make this bullshit!” You say to yourself.

Is it worth it?

—

Maybe

Other occasions you just so happen to be in downtown and you see people shuffling up and down the sidewalks with their coffees in hand rushing from here to there and you can’t help but think to yourself, “Glad I’m not that guy,” as you cruise on by at your own leisure. You spend as much time as you want at the park soaking up the sunshine. Life is good. But then you can’t afford to pay rent. Let alone a bowl of ramen.

Is it worth it?

—

Maybe

You have a chance to change the world and if you’re really good, maybe end up in the New York Times or at the MoMa or end up being one of the most important figures of your generation. Who cares if you have to go a couple of nights sleeping on your friend's couch? Who cares if you can’t answer the question “So what do you do?” Who cares if your parents think you’re an utter failure. Who cares? Who fucking cares?!

Is it worth it?

by Jason Lam