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Joshua Stephany

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Music Production
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Business And Entrepreneurship

Reading

  • Academic
  • Adventure
  • Business
  • Classics
  • Education
  • Fantasy
  • How-To
  • Literary Fiction
  • Literature
  • Self-Help
  • Politics
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Sports and Games

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

I am a dad to an amazing son and am reinventing myself at 32 years old. I have had many setbacks but I know that it is never too late to follow your dreams and passions. I have always had a passion for music and giving back, but I was not able to pursue those interests when I was younger due to financial constraints and fear. As I grow older, many financial constraints still exist, but the fear has dissipated. I am jumping in headfirst to pursue a career in music production, and show my son that you can always follow your dreams, regardless of your age. While I spent years building my reputation in the sales industry, going into work each day felt flat and disheartening. I started thinking about my "legacy" and how my son would think about my life and accomplishments. I knew that I didn't want him to be proud of me for making a ton of money, but instead be proud that I wasn't afraid to follow my heart and passions, no matter what adversity stood in my way. Though I know trying to juggle being a parent, a provider, a hefty school load, and work will be hard, I know that I can persevere. While I am in school I will continue running my YouTube and Twitch channel, GidKidDad, to bring happiness to people's lives through song and encouragement. I also intend to share my experiences with others to give them hope in their own endeavors and run charity events that support mental health awareness, children's needs, and social justice issues.

Education

Los Angeles Film School

Associate's degree program

2021 – 2023

Majors:
  • Music

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Owner

    Music · Stream Studios

    Jan 2020 – Present

  • Senior Specialist, Government Affairs and Public Policy

    Government Relations · Whyte Hirschbeck Dudek S.C.

    Jan 2011 – Jan 2012

  • Performer/Artist

    Entertainment · GidKidDad

    Jan 2020 – Present

  • Owner

    Recreational Facilities and Services · The Green Room Billiards

    Jan 2012 – Jan 2013

  • Political Consultant

    Public Policy · JSK Consulting

    Jan 2009 – Jan 2014

  • Finance Director/Sales Manager

    Automotive · Racine Hyundai

    Jan 2014 – Jan 2016

  • General Sales Manager/Finance Director

    Automotive · Umansky Auto Group

    Jan 2016 – Jan 2018

  • General Manager

    Automotive · Hyundai Greenfield

    Jan 2018 – Jan 2019

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Music
Dream career goals:
Music Producer, Music Artist
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Terry Crews "Creative Courage" Scholarship
My story didn't start as the glamorous life people dream of. It was quite the opposite, littered with abuses that would affect my mental state for years to come. Though my childhood was tough, through perseverance and a little help from some around me, I was able to seek therapy and begin the healing process I needed in my life. This healing gave me the strength and confidence to grow on the inside and outside. I was able to turn those internal wounds into something more akin to armor and use those negative experiences to forge ahead with a goal in mind - to provide a better future and life for myself and my future family. Fast forward to the present, and I have been able to do that. I worked hard, it paid off, and I was able to provide for myself and my wife. Then my son was born, and everything changed. While I had a decent job, I felt hollow. My job didn't bring joy, and money no longer fulfilled me. I wanted to show my newborn son that you can, and should, follow your dreams, even if it takes some time to get there. And so I set out to do just that. I spoke with my wife, and we decided to go all-in on me pursuing music as a career at thirty-two years old, by returning to school for music production. This song is about my journey, and that even though the negative voices inside can make you feel like you're "never enough", through self-love and care you can feel like "you won't be judged because you are loved, and you are enough!" We will be releasing this song on Spotify this month, and I hope it inspires others to feel loved as well.
Bold Self-Care Scholarship
From childhood, I suffered from mental health issues including depression and anxiety. As I got into high school and early adulthood, these could become crippling, many times stopping me from performing the most basic of functions. Through perseverance and help from some around me, I was able to seek out therapy and begin the healing process. It was in therapy that I learned how important self-care could be. It was small repetitive actions that helped me fully understand this. The first action that I remember helping my mental state was looking myself in the mirror EVERY morning and telling myself that "I am worth it!" This may seem like a small feat, but at the time, it was necessary to be able to get through daily functions, and allowed me to become the person that I am today. Without those four simple words, I couldn't have begun to build the confidence to even consider self-care. I often felt like doing things for you own benefit somehow meant that you were shorting others of something. Today that couldn't be further from the truth. I realize now how important caring for yourself is. Not only for you own happiness, but for the happiness of others around you. My self-care now revolves around music. Writing and producing music not only makes me extremely happy, but I also get to see the joy in others when I perform for them as well. It allows me the ability to express every emotion, from happiness to sadness; anger to inspiration. I look forward to making this into a full career so that I can share this experience with others for the rest of my life.
Shreddership: A Music Scholarship
Joshua Stephany Student Profile | Bold.org