From Plan A to Plan Artist: My Unlikely Journey to Building Artist’s Launch Academy

Hi there! I’m Kasi, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about life, is that I really enjoy a good plan.

I’ve always been someone with a Plan A, B, C, and D for every scenario. Planning was my superpower—a way to stay ahead of the unknown. But the winding road that led me here, to creating the Artist’s Launch Academy, wasn’t on any of those plans. And you know what? I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

My year living in a dorm at 22.

Growing up, I was clear about one thing: I wanted to be a doctor. By the time I was 10, I’d set my sights on becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. My fascination with evolution only strengthened my resolve. Throughout high school, that goal guided every choice I made. But life, as it does, had its own ideas.

After graduation, I faced an unexpected twist. My twin sister and I found ourselves navigating adulthood together in a one-bedroom apartment, juggling full-time jobs just to make ends meet. Despite the challenges, I pushed forward. I worked full-time, saved up, and eventually returned to college as a pre-med student, balancing tutoring, nannying, and school while earning scholarships and grants to keep my dreams alive.

It was during this time that I discovered Evolutionary Medicine—a field of research that blended my love of science and problem-solving. It felt like a perfect fit. But as my studies advanced, the weight of constant juggling caught up with me. Burnout set in, bringing panic attacks, exhaustion, and a realization: I needed a break.

Then I got into a car accident...then I really needed a break.

Then came the pandemic.

Like many of us, I thought the lockdown would be temporary. It was the pause I thought I needed to regroup. I even had a wild but exciting plan to buy a bus, renovate it, and use it as both a home and a solution for college housing. But as the pandemic stretched on, a new opportunity emerged. My now mother-in-law needed a website for her business, so I taught myself web design. What started as a project turned into a passion, and eventually, a business.

Fast forward a few years, and my world looks completely different. I never expected to step away from medicine or find a calling in website design. And I certainly never dreamed I’d launch an educational platform for artists. But through every twist and turn, I’ve discovered that my plans weren’t failures—they were stepping stones.

The Artist’s Launch Academy was born from my experiences, challenges, and the realization that creativity, like life, thrives when supported by a solid foundation. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned—about planning, adapting, and building something meaningful—and poured it into this Academy.

Today, I’m here, not as a doctor or a researcher, but as someone who understands how messy, beautiful, and transformative the journey can be.

I still have a few classes left to finish my degree, and maybe I’ll get there one day. But right now? I’m right where I’m meant to be, building something I hope will empower artists to grow, thrive, and create their own paths.

Thank you for being here and for allowing me to share this journey with you.