Have you ever dreamed of turning your passion into a career? I know I have. And now, I’m doing exactly that—pursuing music full-time and making my dreams come true. But it didn’t happen overnight. Today, I want to share my journey with you—the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Where It All Began

Music has always been at the center of my life. Ever since I was three years old, I knew it was something special to me. It was Christmas morning, and my mom got me a bright pink Barbie electric guitar. I ran all over the house shouting, “Look at me, I’m a rockstar!” That moment was the beginning of everything.

When I was five, my dad taught me how to read music on the piano. By the time I was 11, I was writing my own songs. At 13, I joined the school band, playing clarinet, and I even taught myself how to play guitar that year, too. Music wasn’t just something I did—it was part of who I was. And now, I even play 14 different instruments in addition to singing, writing, and producing.

Taking Control of My Dreams

For the longest time, I thought success in music meant getting signed by a big record label. But the more I learned, the more I realized I didn’t need to wait for someone else to make my dreams happen—I could take control myself.

I started learning music production, taking lessons at Pippin Music Academy, reading books, listening to podcasts, and even enrolling in a program or two at Berklee College of Music in Boston. I committed to releasing music every month and posting on social media every day. And slowly but surely, things started happening.

In 2024 alone, I reached 100,000 streams across all platforms, was featured on the front page of The Times Georgia newspaper, and continued growing my community of listeners.

What I’ve Learned (And How You Can Do It Too)

If you’re looking to turn your passion into a career, here are some key lessons I’ve learned along the way:

1. Identify Your Passion – Find what truly excites you and makes you come alive.
2. Become a Life-Long Learner – Take courses, find mentors, and never stop improving. My mom always told me that if you’re not growing, you are dying. Because living things must always grow. No matter how much you think you know, there’s always something new to learn.
3. Create Your Own Path And Set Goals for Yourself – Don’t wait for opportunities—make them yourself. If you want to be a musician, start releasing music. If you want to be an artist, start painting. Whatever it is you dream of doing, start now. Set clear goals, both big and small, and work toward them every single day. Even if no one is watching yet, keep going. The right people will notice in time. (include these sayings: the only thing you waste is paper, even if you do one thing a day, eventually this will compound)
4. Stay Consistent – Success doesn’t happen overnight. Keep going, even when it’s hard and scary. And remember that confidence goes a long way. Show up for yourself, believe in what you’re doing, and keep pushing forward, even on the days when doubt creeps in.
5. Connect and Share – Engage with people, tell your story, and put your work out there. You never know who’s listening or watching. Build relationships with those who support your passion, and be open to learning from others along the way.
6. Be Generous — Give more than you take. Share your knowledge, help others on their journey, and pour your heart into what you create. The more you give—whether it’s time, encouragement, or value—the more it will come back to you. Generosity builds trust, relationships, and a legacy that lasts far beyond any single achievement.

Final Thoughts

Turning a passion into a career isn’t easy—but it is possible. My journey is still unfolding, and I know there’s so much more ahead. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that dreams don’t work unless you do.

My mom always told me, “Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho,” which means there’s a gap between what you say you want and what you’re actually willing to do to get there.

So, what steps are you willing to take to make your passion a reality?

But whatever you do, Keep Dreaming Big!

~ Tzayla ~

Adventure sounds like THIS

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