From designing customized apparel to helping young people explore the arts, this Pathways Scarborough Village alum is building a future grounded in creativity and connection.
Earlier this year, Mya came back to Pathways Scarborough Village to teach. It was a full-circle moment for someone who had once been a Pathways student herself. She’d come to lead a custom design workshop and tell the youth how she had built her own business, Customs from M.
Surrounded by colourful vinyl decals, Mya taught students how to use a Cricut—a machine that uses a tiny precision blade to cut shapes from materials like paper, vinyl, and fabric. That day, the students would create personalized cups while eagerly questioning Mya about how she started her business.
As a former student, Mya understands how impactful it is to hear from someone close in age. “Everyone was really engaged,” she says. “It was really nice to share how I got started and see if they can be inspired to start something of their own.”
Colourful rolls of vinyl used by Mya to create personalized designs for clothing, cups, signs, and other custom orders.
Mya has loved art since she was a kid. From painting to making bracelets and tie-dye t-shirts, she was always crafting something. In 2020, her father introduced her to a heat press and Cricut machine, which he used to make designs for clothing and party flyers. “I turned to him a lot when I needed help,” Mya says. “I wouldn’t know how to use any of these tools without him.”
While creativity came naturally to Mya, her time at Pathways helped her develop the independence to put those skills into action.
“The staff always said the right things to help me do well and push myself, and they told me I could accomplish anything I wanted,” Mya says. “You can have all the tools, but sometimes you still need someone in your corner to motivate you.”
In 2025, a year after graduating from high school, Mya designed and printed her own t-shirts. When friends and family told her how much they liked them, she realized she could turn her creative skills into something bigger.
With tools gifted by her father, the confidence she gained at Pathways, and her passion for art, Mya decided to launch Customs from M. She promoted her designs through Instagram and soon began receiving orders for birthdays, graduations, vacations, weddings, and other celebrations.
Inside Mya’s workspace, where she brings personalized designs to life for her customers.
When she told Pathways staff about her business, they were excited to see how far she had come since graduating the year before. “They were happy I was doing something I loved on my own and encouraged me to keep it up!” she says.
Running a business helped Mya grow personally. Managing requests, promoting her work, and interacting with customers pushed her outside her comfort zone. “I used to have a hard time talking to people,” she says. “But now I like doing things where I can inspire people or teach them something.”
Birthday cups with custom labels created by Mya.
For over a year, Mya has also worked full-time as a before- and after-school staff member at the Boys and Girls Club, where she helps young people with homework, prepares meals, and leads creative projects such as bracelet-making and painting.
This fall, Mya will return to school to study Early Childhood Education, while growing Customs from M. She hopes to continue combining her creativity with her passion for supporting youth. “I plan to use my art skills to organize public events, including events for youth. I can’t wait to see where this will go!”