I feel like this is important for me to share, especially because there are so many young artists on this app. Take whatever you want from this.

I should mention that this is a warning of sorts. To anyone who's uploading their art to social media, or who's trying to get their name out there. No, this isn't a bad thing, it's great that young artists are reaching out and getting their works into the public eye. More power to ya.
My warning is, watch your artistic ego. Because that's exactly what happened to me.

I was 14. I just joined an app called Amino, specifically the Wings of Fire Animo. I liked the series, I liked drawing the dragons. My account instantly blew up, users were giving me so much praise and attention. For anyone who doesn't know, Amino groups can feature your work, which means it'll be the first image users see. It'll also be the cover of the group for awhile. My account got more features than my other friends on the app, I kept a goddamn record. I felt on top of the world, people actually liked my art and enjoyed my little stories. My account was rapidly growing, I was invited to pirvate chats with the tops artists at the time. I was listened to and recognized as a somebody.

I got addicted to that praise, each like fueled my next drawing to the point where I only drew dragons for months. I didn't improve because I had a passion for art, I had a passion for likes, for comments, for praise.

I chased for that feature, every single time. Soon enough I fell into a major burnout and, well, abandoned my account. The feature high I felt wore off, and I was left hanging on the edge of nothingness. Because without my art, I was nobody. I was alone.

Amino wasn't the sole contributer to this, by the way. I grew up with constant affirmations from my parents and peers. Too much, in fact, as I was convinced that I was gonna be some child prodigy and with a thousand awards. Yeah, my ego was consuming me. Still is if I'm being honest, but I'm working on it.

Please remind yourself why you're drawing, because if your only answer is fame or external validation, you will never be happy. Trust me. Self confidence is hard to obtain, but if you desire a life free of envy and self deprication, drop external validation. Drop expectations of being a famous artist. Get off of social media, and draw for you.

Fame is an illusion. Don't chase it.