I walked onto set on the first day of my first year summer intensive class. I checked my assigned role for the day. The 1st AD. This might have scared some or even terrified others, but I was three espresso shots deep. Adrenaline pumping, and thrilled to get started, I welcomed the hard work and the guidance and criticism of my professors. Receiving critique, engaging the crew, collaborating, being vested in my passion for film and film production. I finally felt as if I’d found my “place.” My passion for film originated with the infamous, “Junk Food, Popcorn, Movie Nights”with my dad. We watched a new 80s movie every month. Afterward, we talked about the films and recovered from our junk food binge. Wonderful memories. As I got older, I found joy and interest in analyzing films and relating them to topics in my English classes. In my senior year, My AP Language class served as the perfect outlet for my growing love of film. I wrote essays on the comparison between films and Shakespeare’s novels and engaged in seminars tying films to foundational writing. I even started going to church again in order to understand biblical imagery and references in films and novels. I viewed the experience as another literacy fluency class of my own. I wanted to do anything and everything to understand what films were really all about. In addition to my growing love of film, my stepmom owns a production company in Richmond, and this solidified my decision to go to VCU for Cinema. Although, before meeting her I wanted to be a Guardian Ad Litem. Not something many eight year old girls dream of being when they grow up, but that's what I was most drawn to during my parents custody battle. My Guardian Ad Litem told my story to courts to sort through the lies being told by my mother. But, my stepmom showed me the delight she had in her work and taught me by allowing me to observe her. I’d watch her help others tell their stories through film to ultimately raise awareness to new perspectives and issues. Her storytelling approach through film captured my attention in a way law never could. She’s shown me that it is possible to build a successful creative career in film, where there is rarely ever a goal cap, which is all I’ve ever wanted. It would be such an honor to be granted the Raymond W. Walsh scholarship. I attend school and work full time, something I’ve been doing since I was fifteen years old. I take pride in my work ethic, and even though I want a career in film, I’ve moved my way up in the service industry over the years. I started as a host at a pizza restaurant. I’m now a kitchen server assistant at one of the best restaurants in Richmond. I strive to advance in every work space in which I am involved. My attention to detail and focus on my future allows me to be extremely goal oriented. This Scholarship will help me pursue my goals while alleviating some of the stress of paying for school, loans, and all other living amenities on my own. My hours on set, during the upcoming summer semester, don’t align with my place of work and, therefore, I will be unable to work my usual five days a week. This Scholarship would grant me more than just money—it would give me the chance to focus and be more engaged in pursuing my passion for film and film production during my final semesters.