When I became interested in photography I was coming from my art background where most of my art was about confrontation and taboo subjects. I remember a professor in my "intro to B/W" class (the only photo course I took - and subsequently the end of my college career) saying something about a friend of his who used to love creating art, then he realized he needed to make some money. That has still stuck with me, but I refuse to give up my sense of art and vision. He also told our class not to go into photography as a career... that piece of advice didn't stick very well.
I still try to give that attitude that I had in my art, and I love when I can really let lose and push it as far as I want to. I suppose my mind has opened up to different attitudes and emotions. That's one of my big things, emotion.