The Things They Said & How I Turned Them Into Fuel
People remember praise. But they never forget the digs, the eye-rolls, or the subtle ways the world whispers, “You don’t belong here.”
I’ve had more than a few of those moments, some loud, some barely noticeable, but every one of them helped shape who I am. For a while, they stung. Now? They push me forward.
1. “Even Adults Will Doubt You”
In high school, I poured myself into filming weekly hype videos for our football team. I’d spend hours on the sidelines and even more in the editing lab. The videos became part of the team’s game-day routine. It was new, creative, and totally driven by passion, no paycheck, no applause expected.
Still, not everyone celebrated it. I heard secondhand that a teacher spoke negatively about me, not because I was causing trouble, but because I was doing something different. Something bold.
That’s not unique to me. I've met other creatives, photographers, writers, coaches, who faced similar skepticism when they broke the mold. It taught me that sometimes people aren’t rejecting you, they’re rejecting what they don’t understand.
What I learned: Even if you do everything right and with heart, some people will still try to dim your light. Shine anyway.
2. “You’ll Have to Be Better to Be Chosen”
Growing up, I had a coach who I could tell didn’t believe in me. No explanation, no real reason, just a lack of belief. My parents said something I’ll never forget:
“If it’s close, the coach is not picking you. So don’t make it close.”
That single piece of advice shifted my entire approach: don’t aim to be good. Be undeniable. I’ve seen this pattern in work, too, where certain voices don’t get heard until they’re too strong to ignore. Whether it’s a woman in a male-dominated field or a new hire trying to get noticed in a boardroom, the truth is, sometimes you have to work harder just to be seen. But that extra effort builds something lasting.
What I learned: Fair or not, pressure builds performance. Sometimes being underestimated is the greatest training ground.
3. “There’s No Future in That”
At 17, I told an adult I wanted to study film production. He didn’t even pause:
“There’s no money in that.”
It wasn’t meant to be cruel, it was just his worldview. But those six words stuck with me. Not because I believed them, but because I knew I’d prove them wrong.
Now? I make a living with a camera. I get to travel, collaborate, and build a business rooted in the thing I’ve loved since second grade. I’ve heard versions of that line from others too, musicians, dancers, entrepreneurs, told to pick a “safe” career instead. But passion pays off when matched with hustle.
What I learned: People will project their limits onto your dreams. It’s your job not to accept them.
“Stay in Your Lane”
I once shared a few ideas about fan engagement and game‑day experience with a leader in another department, nothing radical, just ways to elevate the atmosphere and connect people more deeply to the moment. She didn’t even look up before saying, “Stay in your lane.”
It was meant to shut me down, but instead it sharpened my awareness. Some people only see the world through the narrow slice of responsibility in front of them. They don’t recognize when someone is thinking bigger, seeing patterns, or imagining possibilities that stretch beyond job titles. I tucked that moment away, not as a wound but as a reminder. Later, in rooms where leaders actually wanted innovation, those same instincts were celebrated. The people with real vision never fear ideas that come from outside the box, they’re too busy building something better.
What I learned: The right people won’t tell you to stay in your lane, they will widen the road.
In the End
This isn’t a list of grudges, it’s a gratitude journal in disguise.
Every comment, every closed door, every passive dismissal helped sharpen my voice. They taught me how to keep showing up, keep creating, and let my work speak louder than the doubt. You don’t become resilient in comfort. You grow through resistance.
So if you’ve ever been overlooked, underestimated, or told to “be realistic,” know this: you’re not broken, you’re becoming. Let it shape you, not shrink you. Because the sweetest success isn’t just proving others wrong. It’s proving yourself right.
Regan Jones is the Director of Creative Content for Florida State University Athletics, where she leads the visual identity and storytelling strategy for one of the nation’s premier athletic programs. She joined FSU in June 2026 after four years at Missouri State University, where she shaped the creative direction for football and basketball and produced cinematic content that elevated engagement across 19 Division I sports by more than 200 percent. Her work includes intro videos, recruiting features, in‑venue board graphics, and the documentary series The Maroonprint, which highlighted the history, culture, and heartbeat of Missouri State football.
Before stepping into collegiate athletics full‑time, Regan served as the marketing and creative strategy manager at SVN | Rankin Company, overseeing digital branding, commercial listings, and social campaigns, including a high‑impact video project for the Tournament of Champions. She is also the founder of My Charmed Productions LLC, where she continues to produce independent creative work.
Regan’s passion for storytelling began in second grade with a camcorder, her siblings, and a backyard full of imagination. By eighth grade she was creating hype videos for the Greenwood Bulldogs Championship Football teams, discovering the spark that would eventually become her career. She graduated from Missouri State University in 2020 and has spent every year since building a body of work rooted in emotion, authenticity, and the belief that great stories can change the way people feel about sports.
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