This past Saturday I had the opportunity to sit on a panel for Step Up Women’s Network as a part of their career connections day, talking to high school girls about careers in the arts. When I was first approached about the opportunity, I immediately emailed back, questioning…seriously!? are you sure you want me!? Although I am a professional photographer by title, I am still just a beginner in this world of owning a small business, and was so unsure of what advice I’d have to offer to these girls. I’m learning as I go and trust me, I have already made plenty of mistakes. Not to mention I’m a terrible public speaker! But a goal of mine for 2014 was to do more of the things that scared me, and with that in mind I made the commitment to be honest, encouraging and open.

It truly was an inspiring day! It was so lovely to meet not only such amazing women but to get to know these beautiful, powerful, and inspiring young girls. On the panel, we talked about our career paths, our struggles, networking and how we stay inspired. One thing the mentors and I discovered is that many of the girls didn’t even realize that they could make careers out of things they already loved doing. Their love for the arts was sometimes thought of as a fun hobby, but the idea of making that hobby a profession never seemed obtainable. Reminding the youth that you CAN have a career that you love is so so important. I truly believe you can do anything you set your mind to and to be in the company of like minded women felt so inspiring! #girlpower

No matter where you are in your career, life, path, etc…you can always offer a helping hand through advice and leadership. To get involved with Step Up, visit their website or shoot me an email at natalie@natalieprobst.com and I’ll put you in touch!

Happy Monday 🙂

Photo via @stepupwomensnetwork.