I have been working as an actor since I was 15 years old. I was provided the opportunity to move from rural Michigan to New York with my mom, and I put my all into pursuing my goal. After auditioning for half of a year finding my own auditions, I was offered my first leading role. It was for a film that dealt with LGBTQ issues regarding self-identity and bullying. I could relate to the material of the film immensely, growing up gay in Michigan left me with a lot of experience in being bullied. I knew that this story was important to tell, and I wanted to represent my newfound community, yet I felt vulnerable at first. Upon considering the offer, I was very nervous about what others might think of me taking this role. I had never really talked about being gay with any of my extended family, and I was unsure of what their reaction would be to the film. Despite my hesitation, I reminded myself of the importance of standing behind things that matter not just to me, but to so many people. I thought about the time I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody, and for the first time, I saw representation of queer identities in a film. That movie gave me an indescribable sense of inspiration, seeing these people I related to so much. I thought about how even in 2019, queer representation in mainstream media was something I had not even considered until that moment. Ultimately, I concluded that representing queer issues was too important of an opportunity to pass up for the sake of personal insecurity. I decided to embrace the unknown and accepted the role. Observing our film's journey across the world in dozens of celebrated film festivals has been indescribably fulfilling. The far-reaching impact of the project has been a testament to the countless hours of work that went into creating the final product. The accolades and honors the film has received, including a recent personal achievement, ‘best actor’ at the Reading Film Festival, have served as a powerful affirmation of the importance of the work we are doing. When I watched And What If I Am for the first time, I was scared out of my mind. I thought that seeing myself in such a venerable state onscreen would be terrifying. Though, this initial fear completely disappeared as I watched the film roll. I thought about my younger self watching Bohemian Rhapsody, seeing representation of future possibilities, seeing what hope lies ahead. My biggest hope as an actor is that my work can change someone's perspective, whether it be someone who is reluctant to see the film, or someone like that younger version of me, gaining hope in their future through a movie screen.