Melissa Kreider knows first-hand that life doesn’t stop for an MFA program. While working on Remnants, a body of work that examines sites of sexual violence; launching Don’t Smile, a website dedicated to highlighting the work of female photographers; and teaching full-time at the University of Iowa while pursuing her Masters degree; Melissa managed to persevere through some seriously difficult experiences.

Despite all that she’s been through, it seems like nothing can stop Melissa’s drive to make a difference — both within and beyond the photo world. From personal obstacles to industry biases, she’s discovered the importance of putting her dreams and career goals first. She also had to learn how to make self-care a priority along the way. Find out how she’s overcome loss, addiction, abuse, and more in order to pursue an art career in this episode of Creative Confessionals!