I’m Calling Myself an Illustrator (Even When I Feel Like I’m Faking It): Career Change, Youth Work, and My First Book

I still can’t say “I’m an illustrator” without a little voice in my head laughing at me. It sounds like something other people are — the ones with proper art school degrees, fancy portfolios, and a cool studio somewhere. Not someone like me, curled up on the couch with my tablet, trying to get the lines just right before the battery dies.

And yet… here I am.

I’ve illustrated an actual book. Like, a real book that’s going to be released soon. People are going to hold it in their hands and see my drawings on the pages. Even writing that feels surreal.

But instead of feeling confident and “official”, imposter syndrome keeps creeping in. Who am I to call myself an illustrator? What if someone notices I’m making it up as I go along?

Part of why this feels so strange is where I’ve come from. I spent years in customer service — headsets, queues, tills, endless scripts. Then I made a huge career shift into something that actually feels meaningful: youth work, mental health, and now illustration. I graduated with my MSc in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, and I’m finishing my counselling skills training too.

On paper, customer service, youth work, and illustration might look completely different. But to me, they’re all connected — about people, listening, expression, and finding ways to communicate when words don’t feel enough.

Most of my illustration still happens on the couch, but we’re slowly carving out a corner for a little studio too (probably deserves its own blog post).

This whole journey feels huge, terrifying, and a bit messy — but also exciting. So maybe it’s time to start saying it out loud (even if I still cringe a bit): I’m an illustrator. A slightly bewildered one, but an illustrator all the same.