Starting something new rarely comes with certainty. More often, it begins with questions, setbacks, and the uncomfortable feeling of not quite knowing what the next step should be. Many people reach a point where they feel stuck, torn between what they want to do and how actually to make it work in the real world.
Growth, however, doesn’t usually happen by waiting for clarity. It happens by trying, failing, reflecting, and trying again - by stepping into environments that challenge how we learn, work, and see ourselves.
In this blog post, you’ll meet Brad, a 24-year-old from South Africa who chose to leave home and follow his passion for content creation and brand building. His journey through Hyper Island’s content developer program reflects a process of learning by doing, real-world practice, and continuous feedback and reflection that gradually helped him build confidence and find clarity.
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The Pursuit of Passion
Before joining Hyper Island, Brad had just left his hometown of Cape Town in South Africa. He had spent years teaching himself branding, video editing, and content creation, hoping to make a living through creative work. By the time he was 20, after countless attempts to build an online business without much success, he came to a clear realisation.
“I realised I needed to educate myself properly and become more of an expert in my field if I was going to excel and take my business to the next level,” he explains. “I needed guidance from people who had actually done what I was trying to do.”
Brad was doing everything alone, relying on self-teaching and trial and error. Over time, it became clear that effort wasn’t the issue. Direction was.
That search led him to Hyper Island.
Choosing a Different Way to Learn
By the time Brad discovered Hyper Island’s Content Developer program, he had already ruled out traditional education. Like many of his friends, he could have followed a conventional university path, but that had never felt right.
“School had never excited me,” he says. “But when I came across Hyper Island, I saw there was a different way to learn.”
What stood out wasn’t just the curriculum, but the methodology. Learning by doing, trial and error, and real projects guided by people working in the industry.
“The idea of this type of learning completely resonated with me,” Brad explains.
In fact, his decision was absolute.
format_quote“Hyper Island was the only university I wanted to go to, and it’s the only one I applied to. I decided I was either going there or I wasn’t going to university at all.”
Learning Through Failure, Not Avoiding It
Hyper Island often talks about learning as a cycle of trying, failing, reflecting, and trying again. This resonated perfectly with Brad because it mirrored real life.
“In my opinion, this is without a doubt the best possible way to learn because it reflects the reality of how life and business actually work,” he says. “Real-world experience beats any textbook, any day of the week.”
Through projects, client work, and constant iteration, Brad began to see failure differently. Not as something to avoid, but as a necessary part of learning and growth.
format_quote“I learned that failure is a necessary part of the process. It’s what allows you to learn the fastest and become better at the work you do.”
That shift changed how he saw himself, too.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t allowed myself to go through that journey of failing a lot and failing fast,” he reflects. “Through that process, I grew so much as an individual. I started being able to trust myself in the work I was doing.”
Learning to Trust the Process
For Brad, growth didn’t come without discomfort. It showed up in moments of uncertainty, friction, and learning how to work with others in ways he hadn’t before.
Collaboration became one of his biggest learning curves. Navigating team dynamics, managing client expectations, and working through conflict were all new challenges that pushed him outside his comfort zone.
“I had to learn how to communicate and work with other people in a collaborative way,” he says.
But as those external challenges unfolded, something more internal started to shift.
format_quote“I had to learn how to trust myself. Trust that I was capable of getting the work done, and doing it to the best of my ability.”
Brad describes Hyper Island as a rollercoaster, with clear highs and lows. Intense, energising, challenging, and emotionally demanding.
What carried him through the loops of the ride was learning to stay present in the discomfort, move through uncertainty rather than resist it, and to trust the process, even when it felt unfamiliar.
The Power of People and Environment
Looking back, what mattered most to Brad wasn’t a single project or skill, but the people around him.
“The thing that mattered most to me during my time at Hyper Island was the people I was surrounded by,” he says. “The energy was completely electric.”
Being in a space filled with ambitious, creative people from around the world changed how Brad showed up. It created a sense of openness and possibility that allowed him to step forward as his true, authentic self.
format_quote“There was no judgment, just support and ambition.”
Over time, that environment helped him develop confidence in how he communicates, networks, and positions his value. It also accelerated his professional growth, allowing him to progress faster than he believes would have been possible in a more traditional learning environment.
Where the Journey Led Him
Today, Brad is based in Bristol, UK, working as a strategic content developer and brand consultant, helping people and companies build authentic brands through visual storytelling and content strategy.
The foundation for much of this work was laid during his time at Hyper Island.
“I’ve been able to grow my personal brand tremendously, which I started during Hyper Island’s internship period,” he says. That growth has since led to collaborations with high-level entrepreneurs and major brands, where he works as an external consultant.
Along the way, Brad has grown more confident in trusting his own abilities. When fear or uncertainty shows up, he knows how to ground himself and keep moving forward.
“This is all because I’m able to face uncertainty head-on and trust that I have all the tools I need to navigate it and create my own clarity,” Brad explains.
“Just Do It”: Advice for Anyone Considering Hyper Island
For anyone considering Hyper Island but feeling unsure, Brad’s advice is simple.
format_quote“Just do it.”
He’s clear that fear is part of the process, not a reason to stop.
“Failure, starting over, not having everything figured out - these are all part of the journey.”
“You have incredible talents and abilities that you don’t even know exist yet,” he says. “But if you put yourself in a space that allows you to discover them, going to Hyper Island will be one of the best decisions you ever make.”
Looking back, Brad doesn’t frame his path as a straight line from uncertainty to clarity. Instead, it’s been a process of learning by doing, failing, adjusting, and trusting yourself enough to keep going.
“I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't gone to Hyper Island and been surrounded by the most incredible people, facilitators, and leaders,” he says.
For Brad, stepping into the right environment made all the difference. It gave him the space to realise what he was capable of and to find clarity by moving forward. And for him, that environment was Hyper Island.
“The answers don’t come before you start,” he says. “They come through the doing.”
Curious Where Learning by Doing Could Take You?
Brad’s journey is a reminder that clarity rarely comes before action. It grows through experience, reflection, and the courage to step into something new.
At Hyper Island, our YH diploma programs are built on the same principles: learning by doing, working with real challenges, and developing the skills and confidence needed to navigate change in the real world.
If you’re ready to explore a learning experience that goes beyond theory and helps you grow through practice, collaboration, and real-world application, you can explore our YH diploma programs below.
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