Before tattooing, I was working as an accountant at a CA office. Honestly, it was a decent job, stable, regular pay, nothing to complain about. But somewhere inside, I always felt like this wasn’t it. I’d show up every day, do my work, come back home, and repeat. It was fine. But the fine wasn’t enough for me. I knew I wanted something different, I just didn’t know what that looked like yet.

When I finally made up my mind to leave, I had no clear direction. I wasn’t sure what I’d do next or where I’d even begin. But I’ve always had an interest in art. It was always there in the background. So when tattooing came across as an option, something clicked. I thought, why not just try? I didn’t come into this with a big dream or some grand plan. I simply wanted to see if I could do it. That curiosity was enough to take the first step.

I joined Sam Tattoo Academy and Saiyam Patel became my mentor. What made the journey harder was that I was still working my day job at the time. So every evening after office, I’d come straight to the academy tired, sometimes mentally drained, but I’d show up. Just 2 to 3 hours a day, five or six days a week. It took me around 4 to 5 months to complete my training. There were days it felt exhausting and I wondered if I was doing the right thing. But I kept showing up, and slowly that consistency started paying off.

Saiyam guided me through everything. Not just the tattooing itself, but the whole picture of how to approach clients, how to consult, how to listen to what someone wants and translate that onto skin. He also helped me build a portfolio that actually represents who I am as an artist, not just a collection of random work. He didn’t just teach me a skill. He helped me figure out how to carry myself as an artist, how to think like one, how to take my work seriously. That kind of guidance is not something you find everywhere and I’m genuinely grateful for it.

Slowly, I started getting better. The lines got cleaner, the ideas got stronger, and I started finding my own style. There’s a point in the journey where things stop feeling like learning and start feeling like expression. That shift is hard to explain but when it happens, you know. And before I even fully realised it, things had changed completely. I wasn’t the person who walked in unsure anymore I was someone who knew exactly what they were doing and why.

Today I’m a mentor at the same academy where I once walked in as a complete beginner. When I think about that, it genuinely feels incredible. In such a short span of time from student to artist to mentor It’s been a journey I never planned for but I’m so grateful it happened. Standing in front of new students now, I remember exactly how I felt on my first day. That memory keeps me connected to where I started and makes me want to give my students the same patience and guidance that was given to me.

I have absolutely no regrets about leaving my old job. Not one. This field gave me things I never had before recognition, respect, and most importantly, a real sense of who I am. Before tattooing, I was just going through the motions. Now I wake up knowing exactly what I’m building and why. Everything I have today, I owe to this field.

If there’s an artist within you who wants to build a real career in the art field then this is the platform you should choose to establish yourself. Don’t overthink it, don’t wait for the perfect moment, just come and give it a shot. The path will figure itself out once you take that first step.