While working on her Master’s Degree at the School of Visual Arts, New York-based art director Michelle Poler was broadly instructed to do one thing every day for 100 days. Taking her assignment to the next level, Poler created the 100 Days Without Fear project.
Poler is now 84 Days in, has since graduated, and is documenting herself facing all kinds of fears from quitting her job and posing nude for a life drawing class, to walking around New York blindfolded. See more images and some video clips from Poler’s inspiring project below!
Here is the letter Michelle wrote, resigning from her job:
Dear Ms. Q:
I’ve always been a big planner. I planned to meet my husband at 17 and marry him at 23. I planned to flee my country to pursue a better life and earn a degree from a reputable university. I planned to graduate with honors from a career I thought to be passionate about. I planned to move to Miami to get married and find a good job in my field. I planned to move to the city of my dreams and get into the masters program that would change the course of my career. I planned to work everyday from 9:00 to 5:00 and go to class from 6:00 to 9:00. I planned to succeed at both, school and work, and still have time to explore the city and blog about it. I planned to start a project that would change my life forever; and that’s when I stopped planning.
I did not plan to spend every lunch break facing fears and blogging about them every night after school and homework. I did not plan to sleep 4 hours a day and barely have time to talk to my husband. I did not plan for my project to go viral. I did not plan to have my inbox flooded with emails from people around the world. I did not plan to underperform at work, school or my 100 day project to try to be everywhere at the same time. It just happened; and I’ve never felt so alive.
For this reason, I’ve decided to face today one of my biggest fears: resigning from my position as Art Director for Young & Rubicam / Bravo, effective June 19, 2015.
I’m grateful for the support provided during my tenure in this company where I also had the opportunity to meet wonderful people and enjoy the time at the office.
If I can be of any assistance during this transition, please let me know. I would be glad to help however I can.
Sincerely,
Michelle Poler
New York, NY
