"Nervous, excited, and just about every other related emotion." That's what I said to Cory when he asked how I felt about becoming an Intern at Likable Art. As the Writer/Production Assistant for the past 2 years, I've now seen 4 more interns go through Cory's program. There are a few key lessons that I've seen each of them learn. 

1. You're allowed to be human. 

Coming from today's production-oriented workforce, interns ask me nervously, "Will Cory be mad if I take more than half an hour for lunch?" "Does he expect me to get through all of my assignments by the end of the day?" "Will he be upset if I screw this up?" I asked myself those same questions my first few weeks on the job, and the consistent answer across the board was, "Of course not." 

Cory's attitude towards his interns is so radically different than what they expect. It takes a week or two for them to believe that he really does want them to have creative freedom and input, to take healthy mental breaks, to try something new and allow themselves to fail. In short, it takes a while to believe that he sees you as a human person with a purpose, and never just cheap labor. 

That production-oriented mindset, where you must produce, or else, actually stifles creativity. Not to mention, it just makes you feel like crap. Since working for Cory, I've been able to let go of that. 

2. You can be an artist and not starve. 

Cory has an extensive network of creative friends and colleagues who are all making good, Catholic art. He knows people in film, podcasting, graphics & design, writing, music, you name it. And if he doesn't know of anyone in a particular field, he knows how to find them. 

Witnessing the sheer amount of Catholic artists out there, doing what they love and making a living from it, was totally groundbreaking to me. Even just seeing Cory and his wife both running a small business is enough to make me think, "Okay, maybe I can do this whole artist thing after all." Every intern that's come through since has said something along the same lines. 

3. Creativity is both a gift and a skill.

Cory has a wonderful understanding of how the creative process fits into the spiritual life. And every day, bit by bit, he shares that knowledge. 

God made you creative. He gave you the curiosity and wonder that makes you want to create beautiful things. He gave you your brain, your emotions, your life experiences, your passion. All of those things drive you towards doing something truly extraordinary. 

But it doesn't always come easy. God wants you to work with him, to face challenges, and to grow. Creativity is a muscle that needs to be stretched, tested, and rested. 

I love my job. Not only do I get to work amazing videos for really cool clients, but I get to contribute to the overall process. I have creative value, value that Cory not only recognizes, but fosters into something I never could've dreamed. 

I think about who I was two years ago, how fearful I was of the big, bad world, how hesitant I was to make mistakes, how hopeless I thought becoming an artist would be. God has cleared all of that away, and a significant chunk of that has been through Cory and his work. 

If you need a place to gain creative skills, but also to just gain confidence in your purpose, I can't recommend a better place than Likable Art.