Finding My Passion

Decent grades, easy classes, and zero interest. That was the story of my life in high school, before I found passion.

For years, I hated school. The endless worksheets and repetitive tests felt like a trap. College? Forget it. I could not imagine sitting through more lectures. I thought I’d just figure things out on my own—whatever that meant.

A Pivotal Moment

There was a day during my freshman year of high school, when I sat in my homeroom angry, bored, and unmotivated. The school system was not interesting and did not let me explore my interests. As I sat there visibly frustrated, my teacher, Mr. Goldschmidt approached and we started talking about what I should be doing that day. 

He said, “Brett, you are going to be in this school for 4 years. That's not the part of your life that will change. It is not the part of your life that needs to change. What are you going to do with that?”

I had no answer. He pointed out something I had not fully understood. I could not leave. To think I was going to convince my parents otherwise was insanity. They were legally obligated to keep me in school.

That conversation flipped a switch and transformed my life. Knowing there was no alternative at the time, I needed direction and fulfillment outside of school. I decided to look for ways to make money. 

Finding The Garden Continuum

Throughout high school I started various side hustles: I drop-shipped various products. I built and sold a TV stand out of wood and pipe; I did print on demand for custom apparel and I worked at a pizza shop. My most impressive hobby was running a sports card business, where I enjoyed taking home earnings of five figures. I was 16 years old and earned over ten thousand dollars in revenue. That's a story for another time.

By my senior year, I strived for more. I wanted a career, not just a leisure pursuit. That is when I discovered The Garden Continuum (TGC), a local company looking for marketing support. TGC had previously hired marketing professionals to help with their marketing campaigns, but this was becoming too expensive. So they decided to try, using a high school student with minimal marketing experience, and I was their guinea pig. 

This job gave me a taste of what it felt to be a working professional. I loved it. I saw a future for myself, one where I could thrive.

Saying Goodbye, and Hello Again

I was never too keen on going to college, yet it was not something I shut the door on entirely. Because of this uncertainty, I needed to continue exploring college options. My journey led me to commit to Elon University in North Carolina. 

Leaving TGC turned out to be a more difficult transition, as it was a place I enjoyed working at and learning from my experiences. That being said, we agreed that I could do some remote work while off at school. 

After five weeks at Elon, I knew college was not for me. I was not feeling the value I needed as I was only able to take prerequisite classes my freshman year. It was going to cost me $40,000 before I could take a class in my major, Entrepreneurship.

I contemplated my future a lot during those first few weeks at college. During this time, Monique (CEO of TGC) gave me some of the best advice I had ever received. She told me, “Sometimes you need to jump through the doorway not knowing what's on the other side!”. She made me realize that in life you may fall or you may rise. The only way to find out was to take the leap of faith.

I decided to come home, not only to Massachusetts, but back to TGC. This may sound corny, but knowing I could go back to TGC made me feel more secure with my decision.

The Beginning of BJG Creations

I started working on my own business, BJG Creations, a few weeks after returning home. Again, TGC took a chance on me and became my first client. Helping them grow their business through my inbound marketing efforts showed me what I am capable of. It gave me the confidence to reach out to other companies to hopefully expand my client base.

Where I Am At & Where I Am Headed

As of now, I am working with two additional clients. I plan to continue to expand and have made noticeable progress in every facet of my business. I am more passionate than ever and more driven to succeed. 

What drives me now is simple: I’m always a student. There is so much I want to master—inbound marketing, content creation, editing, building efficient systems, talking to clients, and selling my ideas. Every day, I am learning, growing, and improving. When you stay curious and committed, the possibilities are endless.

Being a forever student is not just about education, it is about chasing growth, embracing challenges, and never settling. That is how I found my passion. And that is how I plan to keep moving forward.

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