Reyna Noriega: Uncovering Her Passion And Finding Balance As She Grows

Reyna Noriega is a Miami native pretty much dominating every creative scene. When she's not blogging for the YesJulz Agency she's updating her personal blog, teaching, painting, drawing, working on her novel, and taking amazing photos. Prior to this interview, I wondered if she was actually doing it all and now I know its no front. Reyna is the real deal! Read our interview to find out her thoughts on discovering what your passion, juggling projects, her perspective on Miami, and lots more!

I don't think many people know that you're a teacher! How did you get into it?

I had been substituting at the school I am a teacher at now, for 2 years. An emergency position opened because the previous graphic designer teacher quit and I was called into substitute for a few weeks. They knew I had an interest in art and after a while, they decided to keep me on as the permanent teacher. 

So you teach a graphic design class? 

Well, last year it was just a graphic design class. This year I teach the graphic design class, a middle school drawing class, and an AP studio art course.

How do you balance it all? 

It has been a lot. My planner/to-do lists help me a lot and loving everything that I am working on makes it worthwhile. There are days that I'm like, how the heck did I do this? Like how did I design a t-shirt for a club, submit the order form, take grades, take attendance, finish my blog, etc. And then there are other days where I do two things and I go home super tired. Time really stretches when you're doing something you like.

When did you develop an interest in writing? 

Writing was my first love. My father is an artist and I was kinda obsessed with him and his art world, but I never tried. Whenever I wrote something in school my teachers would always tell me I had to submit it to the fair, or insist on showing it to other teachers and I was always like, really? As time went on it kinda phased out and I went onto play instruments, I began to draw, and I discovered photography. The writing was always kinda on the backburner. I picked it up again because, in the past, I hadn't found myself in the romance I wanted, so I began writing myself as a character in a romance novel. I haven't finished writing or editing it but started writing it when I was in the 11th grade.

Were you doing it as therapy for yourself or did you start it with the intention of getting it out to people?

I was definitely encouraged by the therapeutic aspect of it.

At what point did you decide to fuse your love for writing with drawing and photography? What made you want to do all 3 and not focus on one over another? 

I realized how much I loved each one of them through travel and the time I spent alone. I noticed how energized each of them made me feel. When I have writer's block I draw, when I don't want to draw I can take pictures. I can always come back to the other.

What advice would you give to someone who finds themselves in love with more than one thing? How do you take that step to actually give it all attention? 

Find a balance. Find a schedule that works for you and don't feel bad for neglecting one for another. You can give yourself breaks without it meaning that you're failing or behind. Just love what you do. Continue to love it and your love will feed into the time you do have. 

You can give yourself breaks without it meaning that you're failing or behind.

Do you inject that mentality to your students? 

I try. I've seen that help in a sense, but at the same time, I feel like they're not absorbing. I try to tell them about finding a passion and being open to expressing themselves but some are just like "express myself for what?". Some dismiss it, but I have a few that come to me on their own time and ask me questions.

Do you have an intuition on which kids take better to your messages, and do you give them more attention?

Definitely, and it sucks. I try to help each kid find something they like, even if it's not in the same way I'm expressing it because they all have something that interests them. 

What advice do you have for someone our age who has no idea what they like to do? Where should they be directing their attention?

I understand how hard being in that headspace can be. I think reading really helps! Self-help books and anything that inspires you to look at yourself and think "what am I doing" is best. Travel! It takes the exposure and trying new things to be inspired. You can't be in the same space all of the time always and expect something to fall out of the sky. Surround yourself with other creative people. 

Is there anything that you did, in particular, to help facilitate your growth in any of 3 of your main creative outlets? 

With all three I feel like I got really lucky. In the 10th grade my aunt who works for channel 7 signed me up for an internship at the MOCA Museum and I had a chance to learn about photography. They taught me the differences between journalistic and artistic photos, and it gave me the chance to be around other creative kids. I had already loved the camera. Growing up my dad had an old film camera, but I didn't know how to use it. The same thing with art. In my high school IB orientation, we were told that the AP elective choices were psychology, tech, or art. I met the art teacher and he showed me the sketchbook we'd get if we joined and I set my mind on getting it. I took the class and began just by sketching pictures from magazines and I thought they were horrible but other people seemed to be impressed. I wasn't an art kid, I was a nerd who just happened to take the class, so I used to be confused when they liked it. The compliments others gave me encouraged me to keep trying and soon I began outdrawing everyone.

I noticed that you're now a writer for the YesJulz agency. How did that come about? 

One day I noticed that there were posts on her site, but it wasn't updated much and there wasn't any inspiring content on the blog. I sent in a proposition letter with possible topics I'd cover and after a few months, I become an official contributor. 

How often do you write for them? 

I post on there once a week, which can be a lot.

What do you see happening in the creative scene in Miami? How do you hope to facilitate growth and change? 

This city is encouraging, but also intimidating because there are so many people doing the same thing. It really takes doing things your way and in a way that is true to you. You can't see one thing working for someone and then hop on that because you're always going to be behind, so it kinda pushes you to think bigger. Even in the sense that everyoneis a photographer now. It's kinda like okay, what sets you apart. What are you saying with the images you're putting out? What are you going to do with the revenue you make? Are you going to give back? Are you going to inspire the youth? It always has to be something that keeps people going because trends die. Things that you build last forever! 

Do you want to stay in Miami? 

I don't know where I stand with that at the moment. I'm not happy with America in general. I know that other countries aren't as career driven, so I want to establish myself here then eventually move somewhere that is more peaceful and cost effective. 

What is your perspective on balancing a romantic relationship while being an ambitious woman?

My ambition has caused me to be an all or nothing type of person. Casual dating has never been good for me. It's always been important for me to be in a space where someone is not necessarily ready to jump into wanting everything, but they're also not afraid of it. If I'm committed that means I want the relationship just as bad as my career. 

Has your ambition ever intimidated other men? 

Oh, definitely. It sucks because they want to be able to take it on, but I'll notice after a while that the dynamic changes. At first, they're like wow you're so intriguing and unique and then it becomes "you're too perfect" and I can't be like you. I've never projected who am I to you, so it's their own insecurities. It's unfortunate but it happens.

What feeling do you hope women get when they see your work? 

Freedom and peace. 

What is the one message you would get out to the world if you could? 

Find true happiness within yourself and in whatever you're doing! Feed whatever it is you're trying to grow and don't worry about looking onto the next.

Are there any books or resources you suggest for people to read? Are there any that have helped you in your particular journey? 

I'd recommend Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, You Art A Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins, It's Not How Good You Are It's How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden, and Do The Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way by Steven Pressfield. 

Do you have any advice for young women looking to also make an impact on the world?

Do it. Don't let anyone stop you, but most importantly don't let yourself stop you. Don't put restrictions on yourself. You can do everything you dream of. It starts with you believing in yourself and making the time!

Connect with Reyna through her blog www.reynanoriega.com, on Twitter @reynasnoriega and Instagram @reynanoriega_.