Arts education has impacted every part of who I am—it shaped my identity, gave me confidence, and allowed me to turn what once felt like disadvantages into my greatest strengths. Growing up, I rarely saw anyone on stage or screen who looked like me. Performers were usually tall, thin, and fit a certain beauty standard. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I didn’t feel seen, and because of that, I questioned whether I was enough to pursue the dreams I held so close to my heart. But the more I immersed myself in theatre, music, and dance, the more I realized that the stage is meant for everyone. Arts education taught me that I not only belonged, but that I had the power to make others feel like they belonged too. Through my time at New World School of the Arts and now at Berklee College of Music, I’ve been given opportunities to grow—not just as a performer, but as a leader, an advocate, and a creator. I’ve studied acting through the Uta Hagen and Meisner methods, trained in dance styles like ballet, jazz, modern, and hip-hop, and developed a vocal range from C3–F6. My educational journey has allowed me to work with Broadway professionals and MFA-trained instructors from institutions like Juilliard, Yale, and CalArts. It also gave me a platform to uplift others. I founded a free headshot photography business, Life Lens by Julie, to help relieve college audition expenses for fellow student artists. I’ve stage managed original works, interned at Arts4Learning ArtWorks in Film and Creative Writing, and returned as a Site Assistant. Arts education has helped me find my purpose—creating spaces for underrepresented voices, including people who look like me, to feel empowered and seen. No one has inspired and supported me more than my mother. She’s been the constant reminder that I am capable, even when our circumstances make things feel impossible. She’s shown up to every performance, helped me prepare for auditions, and comforted me in moments of fear and doubt. Her strength, compassion, and belief in me are why I keep going. As the daughter of a 100% disabled veteran and one of ten people now living under one roof, our financial struggles have only grown—especially with my father’s retirement this year. We’ve reached a point where even our basic needs are difficult to meet. But still, my mother finds a way to encourage my dreams, and I carry her belief in my heart every time I step on stage. I perform because I know there are young people out there—like I once was—who are waiting to see someone like them in the spotlight. I want to be that person. I want to become a Broadway Director and Entertainment Lawyer so I can help build an industry where everyone, regardless of race, size, background, or identity, has a seat at the table. Arts education hasn’t just impacted my life—it saved it. It gave me a dream, a voice, and the drive to change the world for the better. And because of my mother, I’m still fighting to make that dream a reality. Although I do not have a pdf of my work, this is a link: https://youtu.be/DqKvqxjzHfY

Arts education has impacted every part of who I am—it shaped my identity, gave me confidence, and allowed me to turn what once felt like disadvantages into my greatest strengths. Growing up, I rarely saw anyone on stage or screen who looked like me. Performers were usually tall, thin, and fit a certain beauty standard. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I didn’t feel seen, and because of that, I questioned whether I was enough to pursue the dreams I held so close to my heart. But the more I immersed myself in theatre, music, and dance, the more I realized that the stage is meant for everyone. Arts education taught me that I not only belonged, but that I had the power to make others feel like they belonged too. Through my time at New World School of the Arts and now at Berklee College of Music, I’ve been given opportunities to grow—not just as a performer, but as a leader, an advocate, and a creator. I’ve studied acting through the Uta Hagen and Meisner methods, trained in dance styles like ballet, jazz, modern, and hip-hop, and developed a vocal range from C3–F6. My educational journey has allowed me to work with Broadway professionals and MFA-trained instructors from institutions like Juilliard, Yale, and CalArts. It also gave me a platform to uplift others. I founded a free headshot photography business, Life Lens by Julie, to help relieve college audition expenses for fellow student artists. I’ve stage managed original works, interned at Arts4Learning ArtWorks in Film and Creative Writing, and returned as a Site Assistant. Arts education has helped me find my purpose—creating spaces for underrepresented voices, including people who look like me, to feel empowered and seen. No one has inspired and supported me more than my mother. She’s been the constant reminder that I am capable, even when our circumstances make things feel impossible. She’s shown up to every performance, helped me prepare for auditions, and comforted me in moments of fear and doubt. Her strength, compassion, and belief in me are why I keep going. As the daughter of a 100% disabled veteran and one of ten people now living under one roof, our financial struggles have only grown—especially with my father’s retirement this year. We’ve reached a point where even our basic needs are difficult to meet. But still, my mother finds a way to encourage my dreams, and I carry her belief in my heart every time I step on stage. I perform because I know there are young people out there—like I once was—who are waiting to see someone like them in the spotlight. I want to be that person. I want to become a Broadway Director and Entertainment Lawyer so I can help build an industry where everyone, regardless of race, size, background, or identity, has a seat at the table. Arts education hasn’t just impacted my life—it saved it. It gave me a dream, a voice, and the drive to change the world for the better. And because of my mother, I’m still fighting to make that dream a reality.

I am a Dominican- Colombian American First Generation Musical Theatre actress intending to pursue Musical Theatre and Directing. I've been in performance since I was 9 years old. My long-term goal is to become a Broadway Director to create a better future for the industry by proving that Broadway is not an unreachable dream. I am a 2024 YoungArts Award Winner in Musical Theatre. My previous roles include; "Pennywise" in 'Urinetown', "Ben" in 'Matt & Ben', and 'Fairy Godmother/Marie - Understudy' in Cinderella. I participated in a professional internship at Arts4Learning. My motivation is to heal those that have been hurt for this reason and raise the next generation to be strong. I perform to encourage people, especially younger artists, and prove they can do anything they set their mind to. Even if you're plus sized and Hispanic. When I'm older, my goal is to have a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, in order to be a Broadway Director. While I was growing up, I always saw the same characteristics in performers. They usually fit a certain criteria when it comes to their appearance. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I never saw any of their physical attributes in myself. Because of that, I didn't feel like I was enough to be on the stage. But I had such a determination to make it known that I, too, can be that person performing. Theatre should be something that everyone can feel included in, regardless of what makes them who they are; such as the color of their skin, their sexuality, their culture, and everything else that makes those people human. I've never seen someone on stage or on film that looks similar to me and I believe that there must be several people out there that must feel the same way as I do. This has been a dream of mine because I've always wanted to give those who never thought they could have an opportunity, and give them that chance to be great. I believe that it will create a world where this lifestyle would be more reachable. This will change the world for the better. I fear I need more aid to pursue my attendance at my dream school, the Berklee College of Music. My aunts and uncles had their Visas approved and are now staying with us. That results in 10 people living in our 3 bedroom house. My father is the sole provider of my family and already makes below the national average with the amount he is given as a 100% Disabled Veteran. Adding on to that, he is retiring this year which would make his income decrease even more. We no longer have enough money to buy most of our basic needs, let alone pay for college. Considering that Berklee is my dream school, I would do anything to have enough and I need additional help from scholarships outside of the institutional aid.

I want people to look at me and know that everything is possible. While I was growing up, I always saw the same characteristics in performers. They usually fit a certain criteria when it comes to their appearance. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I never saw any of their physical attributes in myself. Because of that, I didn't feel like I was enough to be on the stage. But I had such a determination to make it known that I, too, can be that person performing. Theatre should be something that everyone can feel included in, regardless of what makes them who they are; such as the color of their skin, their sexuality, their culture, and everything else that makes those people human. I've never seen someone on stage or on film that looks similar to me and I believe that there must be several people out there that must feel the same way as I do. That's why I perform. My motivation is to heal those that have been hurt for this reason and raise the next generation to be strong. I perform to encourage people, especially younger artists, and prove they can do anything they set their mind to. Even if you're plus sized and Hispanic. When I'm older, my goal is to have a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, in order to be a Broadway Director. This has been a dream of mine because I've always wanted to give those who never thought they could have an opportunity, and give them that chance to be great. I believe that it will create a world where this lifestyle would be more reachable. This will change the world for the better. My educational experience includes the New World School of the Arts in the Musical Theatre division. I am currently headed to Boston Conservatory at Berklee for a BFA in Musical Theatre. My range for singing is a C3-F6. I have worked with the Uta Hagen and Meisner method for Acting. My dance experience includes ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and modern. I fear I need more aid to pursue my attendance at my dream school, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. My aunts and uncles had their Visas approved and are now staying with us. That results in 10 people living in our 3 bedroom house. My father is the sole provider of my family and already makes below the national average with the amount he is given as a 100% Disabled Veteran. Adding on to that, he is retiring this year which would make his income decrease even more. We no longer have enough money to buy most of our basic needs, let alone pay for college. It would be an honor to continue my love for art.

I want people to look at me and know that everything is possible. While I was growing up, I always saw the same characteristics in performers. They usually fit a certain criteria when it comes to their appearance. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I never saw any of their physical attributes in myself. Because of that, I didn't feel like I was enough to be on the stage. But I had such a determination to make it known that I, too, can be that person performing. Theatre should be something that everyone can feel included in, regardless of what makes them who they are; such as the color of their skin, their sexuality, their culture, and everything else that makes those people human. I've never seen someone on stage or on film that looks similar to me and I believe that there must be several people out there that must feel the same way as I do. That's why I perform. My motivation is to heal those that have been hurt for this reason and raise the next generation to be strong. I perform to encourage people, especially younger artists, and prove they can do anything they set their mind to. Even if you're plus sized and Hispanic. When I'm older, my goal is to have a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, in order to be a Broadway Director. This has been a dream of mine because I've always wanted to give those who never thought they could have an opportunity, and give them that chance to be great. I believe that it will create a world where this lifestyle would be more reachable. This will change the world for the better. I fear I need more aid to pursue my attendance at my dream school, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. My aunts and uncles had their Visas approved and are now staying with us. That results in 10 people living in our 3 bedroom house. My father is the sole provider of my family and already makes below the national average with the amount he is given as a 100% Disabled Veteran. Adding on to that, he is retiring this year which would make his income decrease even more. We no longer have enough money to buy most of our basic needs, let alone pay for college. It would be an honor to continue my love for art.

I want people to look at me and know that everything is possible. While I was growing up, I always saw the same characteristics in performers. They usually fit a certain criteria when it comes to their appearance. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I never saw any of their physical attributes in myself. Because of that, I didn't feel like I was enough to be on the stage. But I had such a determination to make it known that I, too, can be that person performing. Theatre should be something that everyone can feel included in, regardless of what makes them who they are; such as the color of their skin, their sexuality, their culture, and everything else that makes those people human. I've never seen someone on stage or on film that looks similar to me and I believe that there must be several people out there that must feel the same way as I do. That's why I perform. My motivation is to heal those that have been hurt for this reason and raise the next generation to be strong. I perform to encourage people, especially younger artists, and prove they can do anything they set their mind to. Even if you're plus sized and Hispanic. When I'm older, my goal is to have a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, in order to be a Broadway Director. This has been a dream of mine because I've always wanted to give those who never thought they could have an opportunity, and give them that chance to be great. I believe that it will create a world where this lifestyle would be more reachable. This will change the world for the better. I fear I need more aid to pursue my attendance at my dream school, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. My aunts and uncles had their Visas approved and are now staying with us. That results in 10 people living in our 3 bedroom house. My father is the sole provider of my family and already makes below the national average with the amount he is given as a 100% Disabled Veteran. Adding on to that, he is retiring this year which would make his income decrease even more. We no longer have enough money to buy most of our basic needs, let alone pay for college. It would be an honor to continue my love for art.

I want people to look at me and know that everything is possible. While I was growing up, I always saw the same characteristics in performers. They usually fit a certain criteria when it comes to their appearance. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I never saw any of their physical attributes in myself. Because of that, I didn't feel like I was enough to be on the stage. But I had such a determination to make it known that I, too, can be that person performing. Theatre should be something that everyone can feel included in, regardless of what makes them who they are; such as the color of their skin, their sexuality, their culture, and everything else that makes those people human. I've never seen someone on stage or on film that looks similar to me and I believe that there must be several people out there that must feel the same way as I do. That's why I perform. My motivation is to heal those that have been hurt for this reason and raise the next generation to be strong. I perform to encourage people, especially younger artists, and prove they can do anything they set their mind to. Even if you're plus sized and Hispanic. When I'm older, my goal is to have a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, in order to be a Broadway Director. This has been a dream of mine because I've always wanted to give those who never thought they could have an opportunity, and give them that chance to be great. I believe that it will create a world where this lifestyle would be more reachable. This will change the world for the better. I fear I need more aid to pursue my attendance at my dream school, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. My aunts and uncles had their Visas approved and are now staying with us. That results in 10 people living in our 3 bedroom house. My father is the sole provider of my family and already makes below the national average with the amount he is given as a 100% Disabled Veteran. Adding on to that, he is retiring this year which would make his income decrease even more. We no longer have enough money to buy most of our basic needs, let alone pay for college. It would be an honor to continue my love for art.

I want people to look at me and know that everything is possible. While I was growing up, I always saw the same characteristics in performers. They usually fit a certain criteria when it comes to their appearance. As a chubby, small, Hispanic girl, I never saw any of their physical attributes in myself. Because of that, I didn't feel like I was enough to be on the stage. But I had such a determination to make it known that I, too, can be that person performing. Theatre should be something that everyone can feel included in, regardless of what makes them who they are; such as the color of their skin, their sexuality, their culture, and everything else that makes those people human. I've never seen someone on stage or on film that looks similar to me and I believe that there must be several people out there that must feel the same way as I do. That's why I perform. My motivation is to heal those that have been hurt for this reason and raise the next generation to be strong. I perform to encourage people, especially younger artists, and prove they can do anything they set their mind to. Even if you're plus sized and Hispanic. When I'm older, my goal is to have a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, in order to be a Broadway Director. This has been a dream of mine because I've always wanted to give those who never thought they could have an opportunity, and give them that chance to be great. I believe that it will create a world where this lifestyle would be more reachable. This will change the world for the better. I fear I need more aid to pursue my attendance at my dream school, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. My aunts and uncles had their Visas approved and are now staying with us. That results in 10 people living in our 3 bedroom house. My father is the sole provider of my family and already makes below the national average with the amount he is given as a 100% Disabled Veteran. Adding on to that, he is retiring this year which would make his income decrease even more. We no longer have enough money to buy most of our basic needs, let alone pay for college. It would be an honor to continue my love for art.