#3: High School Dropout

Amber left high school at age 17, feeling disconnected from her peers and her community after her friend’s death. She’d already started modeling and dreamed of pursuing a more significant life in the arts. Though her decision raised eyebrows, she didn’t abandon education entirely.

Instead, she completed a diploma through a home-study program while working on her early career. The leap of faith to move to Los Angeles with minimal support and no formal backup plan was a testament to her self-confidence and ambition.