Nineteen and majoring in Economics, I had the opportunity to take up a school-based design position with zero experience. Courage paid me a visit and I picked up a 30-day Photoshop trial, designed my first asset and got the role. I'm not exaggerating when I say it changed the trajectory of my life.

Over the next three years, my batch mates sought out internships in established companies while I applied for small marketing jobs that allowed me to do graphic design as part of my scope.

Twenty-Three with three internships and one permanent role under my belt, not one of it was a full-scope graphic design role. Not because I couldn't, but because I was scared. Took five years for someone to finally persuade me to interview for my first design role. This time I timidly paid Courage a visit and she told me to go for it.

The interview was a mess, but I got in. Armed with the self-taught creative starter pack - self-doubt, inferiority complex and imposter syndrome, I was blessed with immense growth in the following months.

Twenty-Six. "C" and I are on first-name basis now. Two permanent graphic design roles later, I was ready to pursue my small business owner dreams. Making the decision to leave my job and fend for myself was not difficult. While I knew the process wouldn't be easy, I also knew that I would not just survive, but thrive, as with all the previous times I had chosen to be brave.

You see, being brave is a self-reinforcing loop. You learn to trust your abilities and realise that finding Courage becomes easier with practice.