At 24 years old, Erin Ashley Simon was working on the digital and TV side of a major music and media company, living her dream career. But there came a time when certain aspects of the industry started to take a toll on her.
“Drinking at events and stuff Like that. It’s environment where, unfortunately, in some circumstances, it’s not the greatest to be a woman in certain environments. And also, you have so many amazing artists, but at the same time, there’s a lack of understanding of boundaries. People are very passionate, and they want to succeed, and they want to succeed and want to win,” said Simon.
Simon noticed her health started to deteriorate, and what she was once passionate about was beginning to impact her well-being.
“When you’re young, you’re like, ‘I’ve got to grind,’ it’s hustle culture. Hustle culture is not always healthy. That, coupled with having a lack of mental health and a well-being foundation, I needed to instill. Plus, certain negative environments turned for the worse as I continued in it,” said Simon.
Simon says with her mother’s support and encouragement, she decided to leave the career she once loved to go and put herself first and heal from the culture that burned her out.
“It took me actively working on myself, conversations with loved ones, really being honest with myself, and being accountable for myself as well. I finally said you know what? I’m going to go,” said Simon.
She went to therapy, exercised, and started leaning on mental health services to help her heal. Then, she set her sights on pursuing another passion.
“I said to myself, I’m going to give myself six months. I’m just going to go after my passion that I’ve always had since I was a kid, which was video games. I was like, I’m going to make a career in this space. I don’t know what way or how, I’m just going to do it,” said Simon.
