From a young age, students are encouraged and praised for writing creative stories, and for Jessica Novak, this sparked a lifelong passion for becoming an author. However, she often faces judgment when she mentions her intended major in college is creative writing. In this talk, Jessica urges society to abandon its judgments and allow creative individuals to pursue their passions freely. Jessie is a senior at Saint Andrew’s School where she has been attending for all 14 years of her education. She is a lifeguard in the summer and a goalie on the varsity soccer team during the winter season, but when she’s not at school or work or soccer, she writes stories and poetry, and is currently working on a novel. Going outside is one of her favorite things to do, whether she roller skates, gardens, reads a book, or writes a story, she really enjoys connecting with nature, especially in the warm Florida weather! She’s always been interested in public speaking, and could not think of a better way to practice it than to take TED! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx