Just slow down and speak”! My whole body froze immediately. I can’t believe it happen again. I panicked,I started breathing heavier, my whole body was racing. The only thing I could only say was “s-ssorry”. Being a kid with a stutter this was a usual occurrence. I was either hearing “ Why are you mervots?” or “ Slow down”. Because of my speech impediment, I was bullied tremendously and didn’t feel like I belonged. But everything changed when I discovered acting. When I first started acting, I was beyond nervous. I felt I had to be bigger than myself. On the first day, I was asked to read for a character. I was beyond nervous. My jaw felt frozen and tight, and the only sounds that could come out was my stutter. I was immediately embarrassed and expected a roar of onslaught, but my classmates didn’t say anything they just took me in. My teacher told me to relax, “Don’t try to be more than what you already are, just be”. This is what I have been searching for. All of my life, I was constantly being told that men shouldn’t cry or never show fear which made me feel like I was never enough. But acting allows to me express myself and be free. By channelling myself in the characters, I was able to learn that he isn’t much different than me, he has his moments of depression and happiness just like I do. Characters like The Elephant Man, I was able to see myself in his shoes. I know what it’s like to be rejected for something you couldn’t control. To have everyone laugh and mock you for it. I want to continue to bring out the truth in the struggles and problems we all go through. https://youtu.be/lVOb7MNRI_Y

It was a normal, miserable day at school. Mr. Trevor handed back the math tests, I took one look at my grade and knew my mom was going to be pissed. On the way home from school, all I was thinking is how am I going to tell my mom about my failing math grade. I knocked on the door twice. Two more times. No answer. I knew something was wrong off the bat. My mom opened the door crying, I didn't know what was happening. It felt like my world was falling apart. I put down my bag and called for Risky, my dog, but there was no answer. That's when everything in my body just stopped. I couldn't breathe or move my legs, I just froze. It felt like my whole body was in shock, the math test didn't seem all that important now. Risky was found dead in my room. He was waiting for me to get back but passed away in his sleep. He was only 11 years old. Risky was more than a dog to me, he was a brother. Every moment I spent with Risky, I grew as a person. When I would watch TV while I was studying, Risky would purposely get in the way of the TV. He wanted me to do better. Even on the days, he was really tired and sick, he always licked my face and was eager to greet me. After RIsky loss, I was hurt. From that day on I knew I had to make a change and better for myself. I started taking my studies more seriously and gearing up myself to be more focused. Even on the days when there was a basketball game of my favorite team and I was almost caught breaking. I asked myself, " What would Risky do". I was able to graduate with a 3.5 gpa. I didn't do that, Risky did. Risky, I am forever in your debt.

"You're rushing"! You need to take your time! I suddenly froze and felt my whole body immediately tense up. I was performing a monologue from Amen Corner by James Baldwin and was frustrated with the performance. I didn't want to rush but I felt that with all those eyes upon me, I had to do something. But my acting teacher, Geoffrey Horne told me something that I would never forget. "You don't have to be more than what you already are, you are enough". "You are enough". Those words rang out to me on the subway ride home. I was never told this by anyone. When I was a kid, I had a stutter and wasn't the best student which affected my self-respect for myself. I always felt that I was below everyone and not enough. Being told that I was enough sparked something in me. I didn't know what it was at first but I came to realize that it was love. Geoffrey Horne, a member of the Actors Studio, a teacher at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and a Movie Star is the greatest person I know. It's not because of his accomplishments or his position, he is one of the kindest people I have ever known, and shows it through his teaching method. Geoffrey Horne taught me in scenes to really care about the other person. He helped me understand that in life we all have problems that want to be solved. I want to use these skills I learned to really bring out the reality of scenes. In life, if I ever get into an argument with somebody I deeply care about, I really care about them and it does hurt me to say mean things to them. Because It's not just an argument, there is also hidden love in it also. I want to go deeper to further understand the character and the situation of what he's going through. I think what makes my skills different is that I really humanize and tackle the characters' problems and burdens to understand their struggles to find out who they are. I want to inspire others by bringing their problems and burdens to the light. I want to tell the stories of the ones who don't get their story told. Through these characters, I want to make a difference in somebody's else life just like Geoffrey Horne did for me.

“Just slow down and speak”! My whole body froze immediately. I can’t believe it happen. I panicked,I started breathing heavier, my whole body was racing. The only thing I could only say was “s-ssorry”. Being a kid with a stutter this was a usual occurrence that happen almost everyday. I was either hearing “ Why are you so nervous?” or “ Slow down”.Because of my speech impediment, I was bullied tremendously and didn’t feel like I belonged with any of my classmates . This made me extremely closeted and I was alone for most of the time and didn’t have anyone in my corner, but that’s when I discovered acting. The missing link that I have been searching for all this time. When I first started acting, I was beyond nervous. I felt I had to be bigger than myself. On the first day of class, I was asked to read for a character. I was beyond nervous, but I grabbed the page and started to read, My jaw felt frozen and tight, and the only sounds that could come out was my stutter. I was immediately embarrassed and expected a roar of onslaught, but my classmates didn’t say anything they just took me in. My teacher told me to relax, “Don’t try to be more than what you already are, just be”. This is what I have been searching for. Acting gave me a chance to be someone else, to be apart of something. All of my life, I constantly being told that men shouldn’t cry, never show fear, be strong which made me feel like I was never enough, But acting allows to me express myself and be free. It taught me to don’t try to be more than who you’re already are, just be yourself . By channelling myself in the characters, I was able to learn that he isn’t much different than me, he has his moments of depression and happiness just like I do. Characters like The Elephant Man, I was able to see myself in his shoes. I know what it’s like to be rejected for something you couldn’t control. To have everyone laugh and mock you for it. I want to represent his struggles and problems to bring his story to life. I want to continue to take more steps to improve in the craft in acting to continue to tell stories. I want to speak for the people who didn’t get a chance to be heard. That’s why I want to improve every single day to inspire those around me.

“Just slow down and speak”! My whole body froze immediately. I can’t believe it happen. I panicked,I started breathing heavier, my whole body was racing. The only thing I could only say was “s-ssorry”. Being a kid with a stutter this was a usual occurrence that happen almost everyday. I was either hearing “ Why are you so nervous?” or “ Slow down”.Because of my speech impediment, I was bullied tremendously and didn’t feel like I belonged with any of my classmates . This made me extremely closeted and I was alone for most of the time and didn’t have anyone in my corner, but that’s when I discovered acting. The missing link that I have been searching for all this time. When I first started acting, I was beyond nervous. I felt I had to be bigger than myself. On the first day of class, I was asked to read for a character. I was beyond nervous, but I grabbed the page and started to read, My jaw felt frozen and tight, and the only sounds that could come out was my stutter. I was immediately embarrassed and expected a roar of onslaught, but my classmates didn’t say anything they just took me in. My teacher told me to relax, “Don’t try to be more than what you already are, just be”. This is what I have been searching for. Acting gave me a chance to be someone else, to be apart of something. All of my life, I constantly being told that men shouldn’t cry, never show fear, be strong which made me feel like I was never enough, But acting allows to me express myself and be free. It taught me to don’t try to be more than who you’re already are, just be yourself . By channelling myself in the characters, I was able to learn that he isn’t much different than me, he has his moments of depression and happiness just like I do. Characters like The Elephant Man, I was able to see myself in his shoes. I know what it’s like to be rejected for something you couldn’t control. To have everyone laugh and mock you for it. I want to represent his struggles and problems to bring his story to life. I want to continue to take more steps to improve in the craft in acting to continue to tell stories. I want to speak for the people who didn’t get a chance to be heard.

I was smoking weed almost every single day. I don't know why I did it, it just seemed like the only thing I could do. My grades were terrible, my Dad just lost his job, life didn’t seem it was going anywhere . It seemed like smoking was the only thing I could do for me to escape. With every inhale, I felt this rush of euphoria but I was left with being very unhappy most of the time. I tried to quit smoking and stop but I just couldn’t it. It came to a point where I decided to quit smoking all together and went cold turkey. I was miserable and couldn’t sleep. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was miserable more than ever. So I decided to go to the gym. I started lifting weights and I became stronger more than ever before. Started studying more and concentrating more on my work. I was able to graduate with a 3.3. At that low point in my life, I thought recovery was a solution that comes on its own. But I learnt that through grit and struggle, that recovery is bettering yourself. That recovery could only be possible by doing the things that make you uncomfortable or miserable like working out or studying. I was miserable but I learned that through all the challenges and all the hard things I faced, I must continue to fight to get to get to those high places.

It was a hot summer day in the Bronx. We were shooting in a busy subway station on Harlem 125 street crowded with a lot of people crowding around. Giovanni was playing the drag queen and I was the hoodrat. I was waiting for my cue, as soon as the director said action I was going to run and grab the bag. Everything was going smooth until I heard some snickering right behind me. I tried to ignore it and focus more on my preparation but everything stopped as soon as I heard the word ''fag''. These highschoolers weren't making fun of me, they were making fun of my scene partner. In that second, I transformed and unleased a fury of hell. I jumped up and confronted the boys. I screamed, "Who are you to judge anyone?". I was calling them every name in the book. I wanted them to feel the same pain that give, but my scene partner pulled me away. She told me to calm down. I screamed back at her "I'm not going to calm down!". That's when everything stopped again . She gave me a tight hug, in that second I was silent. I didn't have a word to say. I laid in my bed and I cried for the first time. I didn't know why I did but just did. I kept thinking about that hug. I wasn't mad about those kids calling her a fag, I was mad because I felt disrespected. I was hurt and I wanted to stop hurting. Giovanni saw this, but despite me being an absolute douchbag, she hugged me, she still cared. I felt guilty and couldn't stop thinking about it for days. I called Giovanni and I profusely apologized. But Giovanni never wanted to talked about the incident, she just wanted to know if I was ok. Giovanni was selfless and only cared about me. I promised myself that from day on, I would put everyone's problems first before mine. But Giovanni also taught me that it's not about what you get, it's about what you give which a code that I follow each day.

When I was in high school, I surrounded myself with the wrong friends. I remember being in the classroom when one of my "friends" jested me with the usual banter and said "Where's your Dad". Being very shy and quiet, I accepted it and jokingly joined in roasting myself. I had a very low self esteem and didn't think too much of myself. I stared to lose myself, so I decided that enough was enough. I was going to change myself for the better and start to value everything and everyone around me more. The first on my list was to ditch my toxic friends. Next was to really find the things that I value in my life which was my family. I really took more time to cherish everything more and finding what I liked to do. I got better over time and I graduated with a 3.5 gpa at the top of my class.

It was a normal, miserable day at school. Mr. Trevor handed back the math tests, I took one look at my grade and knew my mom was going to be pissed. On the way home from school, all I was thinking is how am I going to tell my mom about my failing math grade. I knocked on the door twice. Two more times. No answer. I knew something was wrong off the bat. My mom opened the door crying, I didn't know what was happening. It felt like my world was falling apart. I put down my bag and called for Risky, my dog, but there was no answer. That's when everything in my body just stopped. I couldn't breathe or move my legs, I just froze. It felt like my whole body was in shock, the math test didn't seem all that important now. Risky was found dead in my room. He was waiting for me to get back but passed away in his sleep. He was only 11 years old. Risky was more than a dog to me, he was a brother. Every moment I spent with Risky, I grew as a person. When I would watch TV while I was studying, Risky would purposely get in the way of the TV. He wanted me to do better. Even on the days, he was really tired and sick, he always licked my face and was eager to greet me. After RIsky loss, I was hurt. From that day on I knew I had to make a change and better for myself. I started taking my studies more seriously and gearing up myself to be more focused. Even on the days when there was a basketball game of my favorite team and I was almost caught breaking. I asked myself, " What would Risky do". I was able to graduate with a 3.5 gpa. I didn't do that, Risky did. Risky, I am forever in your debt.

It was a normal, miserable day at school. Mr. Trevor handed back the math tests, I took one look at my grade and knew my mom was going to be pissed. On the way home from school, all I was thinking is how am I going to tell my mom about my failing math grade. I knocked on the door twice. Two more times. No answer. I knew something was wrong off the bat. My mom opened the door crying, I didn't know what was happening. It felt like my world was falling apart. I put down my bag and called for Risky, my dog, but there was no answer. That's when everything in my body just stopped. I couldn't breathe or move my legs, I just froze. It felt like my whole body was in shock, the math test didn't seem all that important now. Risky was found dead in my room. He was waiting for me to get back but passed away in his sleep. He was only 11 years old. Risky was more than a dog to me, he was a brother. Every moment I spent with Risky, I grew as a person. When I would watch TV while I was studying, Risky would purposely get in the way of the TV. He wanted me to do better. Even on the days, he was really tired and sick, he always licked my face and was eager to greet me. After RIsky loss, I was hurt. From that day on I knew I had to make a change and better for myself. I started taking my studies more seriously and gearing up myself to be more focused. Even on the days when there was a basketball game of my favorite team and I was almost caught breaking. I asked myself, " What would Risky do". I was able to graduate with a 3.5 gpa. I didn't do that, Risky did. Risky, I am forever in your debt.

"You're rushing"! You need to take your time! I suddenly froze and felt my whole body immediately tense up. I was performing a monologue from Amen Corner by James Baldwin and was frustrated with the performance. I didn't want to rush but I felt that with all those eyes upon me, I had to do something. But my acting teacher, Geoffrey Horne told me something that I would never forget. "You don't have to be more than what you already are, you are enough". "You are enough". Those words rang out to me on the subway ride home. I was never told this by anyone. When I was a kid, I had a stutter and wasn't the best student which affected my self-respect for myself. I always felt that I was below everyone and not enough. Being told that I was enough sparked something in me. I didn't know what it was at first but I came to realize that it was love. Geoffrey Horne, a member of the Actors Studio, a teacher at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and a Movie Star is the greatest person I know. It's not because of his accomplishments or his position, he is one of the kindest people I have ever known, and shows it through his teaching method. Geoffrey Horne taught me in scenes to really care about the other person. He helped me understand that in life we all have problems that want to be solved. I want to use these skills I learned to really bring out the reality of scenes. In life, if I ever get into an argument with somebody I deeply care about, I really care about them and it does hurt me to say mean things to them. Because It's not just an argument, there is also hidden love in it also. I want to go deeper to further understand the character and the situation of what he's going through. I think what makes my skills different is that I really humanize and tackle the characters' problems and burdens to understand their struggles to find out who they are. I want to inspire others by bringing their problems and burdens to the light. I want to tell the stories of the ones who don't get their story told. Through these characters, I want to make a difference in somebody's else life just like Geoffrey Horne did for me.

When I was in seventh grade, I got a letter home from my school. My mom opened the letter and I could see the disappointed look on her face. She passed me the report card, didn't look me in the eye, and told me "you're going to summer school". I felt like my whole world was about to collapse, but what made it rock the most was my mom's quiet tone. I never heard her sound this way and it hurt me a lot to know that I was hurting her. My mom was working two jobs at the time and summer school was going to put a dent into our pockets. Every single day before she dropped me off I saw a look of concern. I didn't know what she was thinking but I could feel she was worried that everything around her was going to crash. I knew I had to make a change, I couldn't come back home with any more failing grades. I didn't want my mother to feel burdened or felt like she had to carry any extra weight because of me. I made a promise to myself that from now on, in everything I do, I will do it well. I will put my whole heart and soul into everything I do, just as my mother does. She pulled me and my four other siblings out of some dark times when it was rough. Through divorce, paying for costly tuition, and even the days when we didn't have running water or heat in the house, she still managed to get those things done. Despite these situations being grim, my mother taught me that no matter what the battle is or how difficult it is, you must continue to fight. I want to fight and pave a way for myself just like my mother did for me. Being an actor/director, I face a lot of rejection. Rejections that leave you hurt and make you feel inadequate about yourself. But after every rejection, I know I must get back up just like my mother does. If I'm not happy with a performance, I take a step back and look back at the parts where I didn't do so well. I work on it all day and correct it, so I wouldn't make the same ones in the future. Even in my job as a busboy where I face a lot of people who aren't very kind to me, my mother always inspires me to show patience and be sympathetic and get the job done. That's what my mother showed me, to fight even when the situation is grim. And I will continue to do that for the rest of my life just as she did for me.

Being an actor, you deal with a lot of rejection. Every single time I walk into an audition, I feel scared but I know I better give it my all even despite rejection. I dealt with a lot of anxiety growing up because of my stutter. I felt scared that one stutter over a word could be over for me. It took a while through a lot of trial and error of myself that despite anything or how I sound, I'll go out and give it my all. It wasn't pretty at first, I had my fair share of stumbles but despite it all, I want to still give it all. Being an actor taught me that you must learn from your mistakes and keep going. Keep going no matter what and moving forward to get better each day. I want to keep getting better each day and keep improving. That's the way I live bold.

I want people to be touched and feel like it's their story being heard. I want people to feel like this is someone that they can relate to, so they won't feel alone and feel like it's not about them. I want to speak for the kids who are alone, live in poor families deal with depression, because these are all things that people face that I want to bring to life. When I was a kid, I didn't have the nice toys or nicest clothes. I was a short kid with a speech impediment. I don't want other people to feel alone like I did, but to feel like someone out there really gets them and understands. Through roles like Asagai in a Raisin in the Sun, I want to show the internal conflict of Asagai of rejection of not being able to have the woman he loves the most and at the same time being in the city where no understands you since he's foreign. I dealt with rejection from my parents when I chose acting and experienced bullying because of my speech disorder. I'm sure many people too had faced this feeling of being trapped and it is exhausting. I want to represent and bring their stories to life through their life through my own experiences. One of my favorite acting teachers always says "it's not about what you get, it's about what you give". I want to give as much as myself as I can to this world. I don't care about the applause or commeration, I want to give everything I can which is the most important thing.