AKIRA DAWN

Every Path is Meaningful –
My Two Careers That Have Nothing to Do with My Two Degrees

Be yourself—don’t let the world change you.
You are amazing simply because you are who you are right now. 

The decisions we make at each stage of life hold equal power in shaping who we are today. We are the sole passengers on the ship of growth, and every small victory deserves to be celebrated—no one can take that away.

As an immigrant who moved to Canada alone at 18, I never cried over homesickness; instead, I embraced the freedom of being away from home. However, that also means I have been the only witness to my journey.

Growing up, I was always an adventurous child, asking the most random questions—many without answers. To this day, I am the same as my five-year-old self—I have never stopped thinking about how to live my life to the fullest, regardless of whether or not I am following a path that others would approve of.

My reason for moving to Canada was simple:

I wanted to experience a different education system and live on my own.

I earned two bachelor’s degrees—one in Economics for my Asian parents and one in Interior Design for myself—yet neither is related to the two careers I chose to pursue: tattoo artist and dancer.

Since childhood, I have loved drawing and creating illustrations. Though I never had the opportunity to study fine art or obtain an art degree formally, drawing has always been my safe space—the place I return to when I feel lost.

I started dancing five years ago as a hobby, but over time, it consumed my life. When I was five, I was too shy to take ballet classes, so I chose painting instead. As an adult, I rediscovered dance and began spending more than 20 hours a week training, performing, and teaching drop-in classes. 

To me, dance is another outlet for creativity and emotion—
a space where I can express myself in ways I wouldn’t in daily life.

It feels like being a video game character, choosing different storylines when the music starts, always living my best life as if nobody’s watching. It has been an incredible journey, starting dance as an adult and sharing space with so many talented dancers, with the support of some of the kindest people I have met along the way.

My favourite thing to witness is people doing what they love and continuously improving. Seeing them shine inspires me to keep moving forward in the directions I have chosen.

Their joy in fulfilling their passion is contagious.

I firmly believe that every path is meaningful in its own way.

There is room for everyone in the creative world, and discovering
and nurturing talent will always be my passion and mission. 

I hope my story was enjoyable to read and offered a fresh perspective. I also hope to see you living your best life—pursuing what you love as if no one else is watching.

Discover Akira’s journey @akira.dawn