Becoming a first-generation college student in my family is an accomplishment in itself. Growing up, my parents always encouraged me to go to school and get the best education I could, and I owe them so much for that. It wasn't easy. Waking up at 6 a.m. every morning to go to school was challenging enough, but it was also hard to pay attention in class because I often didn't have enough to eat in the mornings since my parents couldn't always afford food. On top of that, I struggled to fit in with other students, which made me feel unwanted. It was difficult, yes, but I kept going. With the support of my parents and my own determination, I was committed to seeing it through. As a result, I earned my middle school diploma from Le Conte Middle School and later graduated from STEM Academy of Hollywood with my high school diploma. That brings us to today. I am proud to say that I am on track to earn my associate’s degree in Theater Arts at Los Angeles City College! However, when I first started college, I still faced many obstacles. From working full time or part time to make a sustainable living, to making sure I didn’t submit my assignments right before midnight, the challenges were significant. It has still been difficult, yes. Despite this, I am continuing to push forward while trying to make a living in today’s economy. That is why I need financial assistance to help me achieve what I desire most: to become a successful actor. Growing up, I watched Hollywood stars making movies and would always think, that could be me. This is how my dream of becoming an actor began. With the help of this scholarship, not only will I be able to pursue my goal of becoming an actor, but I will also have the opportunity to give back to my family, as they were the ones who believed in me first. They were the ones who got me here, and with the help of this scholarship, I know I can continue moving forward. If I am awarded this scholarship, it would lift an immense weight off my shoulders because I could finally invest in my acting career. I also can’t ignore the high rent costs here in LA. With your support, I know I can succeed in the acting industry. I am determined to follow my passion and share love, joy, and laughter with audiences. My story has just begun.

It’s funny how life works. I recall back in high school I was aiming to pursue a career in architecture. However, after I graduated from STEM Academy, I asked myself, is this what I really want to pursue for the rest of my life? I mean sure archtecture pays good money, but I realized that it wasn’t worth pursuing it if it didn’t bring joy into my life. So, I had some time to reflect, and that’s when it hit me. Growing up, I remember I would watch blockbuster movies like X-Men, and animation shows like adventure time. One thing that really captivated me from those movies is how acting was so very needed for these films and shows to come to life. This reminds me of the time when I took a extracurricular course back in middle school, where we had to analyze and write about meaning behind films. I didn’t think much about those films that were shown in class at the time, but now that I look back to it, I realize why that class is so memorable to me. That class was taught to show me and other students the effort and dedication it took to make these films into art. It wasn’t just films and shows that were prevalent in my life, no, no. Music also played a big role in my life. Towards sophomore and junior year in high school, I had barely started using my headphones for the first time to listen to music. To say that I was astonished was an understatement, I was listening to a variety of genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, etc. What struck me the most while listening to these songs was that they conveyed so much meaning ranging from tragedy, love, and theatrics. All of these and more helped me realize the symbolism behind the arts and how it created such a strong impact on the way I view the world. Recalling all of these moments after I graduated high school made me realize that arts was much more important in my life than I ever realized. Perhaps that’s why I decided to pursue a higher education in the theater arts because it was then that I realized that I wanted to create meaning for somebody, just like music and film did to me all those years growing up. The world has changed in ways I never thought possible, but now I’ve come to realize that people like myself find meaning in life. Of course, none of this inspiration comes without mentioning my friends and family who have pushed me into continuing pursuing my craft in the theater arts. My parents were hesitant at first, but once they saw how happy and motivated I was to pursue my craft made them realize that perhaps it was for the better. As for my friends, let’s just say they have been nothing short of amazing. Recently, we ended the semester with a bang with each of our scene choice of any published play. I had the pleasure and opportunity to play, alongside my partner, a scene from the play “Venus in Fur” by David Ives, and to say that my friends were astonished by the progress of the scene would be an understatement. Their positive feedback only made me feel more confident and certain of continuing to pursue the theater arts and that’s my mission. I just submitted my application to transfer to UCLA and hopefully they accept me. If not, then there are still other opportunities to make my dream come true. Here’s to the arts!

Throughout my life, I have often wondered who I wanted to be when I grew up. Would I become an architect, bound to sit all day and make designs? That doesn’t sound particularly exciting, does it? As a child, my parents encouraged me to consider a career in medicine or engineering for a better and more stable income. However, I didn’t enjoy either of those paths. No matter how interesting or unique they seemed, I never found joy in them. That’s when I had a realization: “What if I could act on the big screen? What if I could make a name for myself? What if I could choose a career that makes me proud and happy?” That’s exactly what I aim to pursue in my journey toward an acting career. My plan is to build a career in performing after graduating by receiving a comprehensive education in theatre and understanding what goes into acting. This preparation will help me embark on a journey filled with drama, comedy, romance, and more. I intend to start with small projects to build my portfolio and gradually work my way up to bigger opportunities. This approach will ensure that I don’t overwhelm myself while discovering my strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to improve over time. As a child, I often watched cartoons available to me without cable, particularly on Cartoon Network. I recall enjoying fascinating animations like "Adventure Time," "Regular Show," and "The Amazing World of Gumball." What intrigued me most was how these characters were given distinct personalities and voices that made them unique. As I watched them interact, I told myself, “I could voice a character!” Now, I am taking that self-advice from 13 years ago and working to make it a reality. The same can be said for acting; watching Hollywood stars throughout my life has shown me the immense effort and passion required to bring a character to life. Some memorable performances that have impacted me include Andrew Garfield, Adam Sandler, and Charlie Cox. From Andrew's emotional and physical portrayal of Desmond Doss in "Hacksaw Ridge," to Adam Sandler's comedic roles in hits like "Pixels," "Grown Ups," and "The Waterboy," to Charlie Cox’s incredible performance as the vigilante in "Daredevil," each of these actors is unique in their way. I plan to use their performances as guidance to better understand the characters I portray. This year marked my first introduction to acting, and it has been nothing short of inspiring. Having a passionate theatre professor has deepened my love for the art. I was fortunate to perform a monologue from the play "Living at Home" by Anthony Giardina. The character I played, John Bogle, has dinner with his family when his brother, David, announces he is getting married. When a family member asks why I dropped out of college, I initially hesitate, but my bottled-up thoughts and emotions come flooding back, and I share my decision to leave college. With my professor's guidance, I delivered a natural and well-told story about a young man grappling with present challenges and his future. One effective method my professor taught me was to identify the obstacle and objective of a scene. Understanding these key elements makes it easier to convey emotion and expression in performance. I have always believed that imagination plays a crucial role in visualizing who I’m speaking to and understanding the context of the scene I’m in. I will perform this piece so that you can gain a better understanding of what I’m conveying in the video provided! My dream role has always been to play a young version of Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider. While Marvel has cast Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider, they have yet to cast a younger version, as depicted in the comics. I believe I can bring this character to life with the right guidance, a deep understanding of the character, and a commitment to landing the role. I know I can do it and will achieve this goal along my journey. Great accomplishments are possible when you are passionate about something, and I am passionate about acting. It has opened my eyes to a world of creativity and art. Theatre and films have inspired me to pursue acting, a role I never imagined I would have the courage to play. Now it’s my time to turn that dream into a reality and work in a passionate field alongside other talented individuals who share my enthusiasm for theatre.

Being the first in my family to attend college is undoubtedly a significant milestone. However, no achievement comes without its challenges. Like many other college students, I am pursuing my hopes and dreams. It can be tough, but anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Join me as I share insights into my life, including why I chose to pursue higher education and how I prepared for this journey. Throughout my life, my parents have always emphasized the importance of education and encouraged me to pursue a higher degree for better opportunities. I was only six years old at the time, and the only thing I could do was pick my nose and pretend that I was taking their advice seriously. Now that I’m in my second year of college, I understand the value of my parents' words about higher education. I’m pursuing this path not only to fulfill my dream of becoming an actor but also to learn from the engaging and interactive subjects offered in college courses. Higher education has taught me the values of hard work and how it pays off in the end. With a college education, I have better job opportunities, a greater understanding of the world, and perhaps most importantly, the chance to become a better version of myself. The thought of going to college excited me, but it also scared me. I had voices in the back of my head asking questions like, “What if I don't make it? How will I get through college while working? Will I be good enough as an actor?” Although I haven't completely overcome these challenging thoughts, I have pushed forward. I managed to prepare for college despite these anxieties by balancing my life and work and planning ahead. There's a saying that goes, “Patience is key,” and I couldn't agree more. I used patience to prepare for college by taking a two-year gap after graduating from high school. You may wonder why I didn’t just start college right away. The truth is, I cannot rush into things, even when I'm eager to get started, because it can become overwhelming and lead to unnecessary stress. That’s why it’s important to take things one step at a time. After graduating from college, I got a job at Target as a General Merchandise Expert. Working at Target has been one of the best experiences I've had. Not only did I learn the value of teamwork, but I was also reminded of the importance of saving my hard-earned money and investing for my future. Because of this knowledge, I was able to save enough money for college and pursue my acting career. Additionally, my wonderful co-workers encouraged me not to be afraid to chase my dreams. They would say, “You want to become an author? Go for it! You want to animate cartoons because you love it? Why not?” Their encouraging words helped my prior negative thoughts vanish, and I am incredibly grateful to those who showed me my worth. Overall, obtaining a higher education has taught me valuable life lessons and opened doors to new opportunities. Despite facing psychological challenges, I have been able to overcome them by being patient and the support of my community.