At the young age of six years old, I played Wendy in my local summer camps production of Peter Pan. From the moment I stepped onto the stage I was hooked. I fell in love with performing. Throughout my life I have moved to different schools, played different sports and even different instruments. Yet, one constant always remained in my life, my passion for acting. Some people are blessed enough to figure out what they want to be when they grow up from a young age, I was not one of those people. I grew up performing everywhere I could, community theatre, school theatre, in my living room, shower concerts, you name it. Unfortunately, like so many other people in this world I viewed an acting career as a dream, not something I could actually pursue. That all changed when my high school director told me my freshmen year of high school that she went to college for a BFA in musical theatre and many more of students also have gone on to college BFA performing arts programs. From that moment forward I knew what I wanted to do. No place makes me feel more at home than on a stage. The arts have a beautiful ability to unite people, theatre can be used to share someone else's story, giving an audience member a chance to walk out with a new perspective on a situation they have never thought of before. Not to mention the "escape" it provides for both performers and audience members. No an actor does not save lives everyday like ER doctors, but it gives them a funny show to watch when they get home. Everyday I wake up extremely grateful that I get to pursue my passion as my career. Today, as a student at Syracuse University, I have taken my acting training to the next level with a BFA in Acting. My ambition is to grace the stages of national tours, regional theaters, and even Broadway, while also making a mark in television and film. I am driven by the desire to portray characters that resonate deeply with audiences and to be part of compelling stories that inspire and entertain. The advancements in modern technology, from AI to digital art, are reshaping the creative landscape. While these tools offer new possibilities, I believe that the core of acting—human connection and emotional authenticity—remains irreplaceable. Trying to figure out the future, one just needs to look at the past. As part of my course work I have to take a class called "drama in context" this class talks about history in the context of different historical time periods. I have learned what theatre was like dating all the way back to Ancient Greece. In Ancient Greece theatre was a way of praising the gods, in the 1870s there was an emergence of realism in theatre because people wanted to see people like them on stage. During the Golden age of Broadway, most musicals were up beat with happy tap dancing numbers because people needed something happy to look forward to during the Great Depression. The arts have been around for a very long time, its how and why that changes. That is what will happen in the future, their might be a shift from hand made sets to screens, there may be an increase in films due to advancements in camera technology. The arts is not going away, it may simply shift. I am prepared to shift with it. No matter what man made art will never lose it's value because the fact that it was man made is exactly why it is valuable. My goal is to work with talented collaborators to create performances that are both innovative and deeply rooted in the emotional truths of human experience. Whether on stage or on screen, I aim to bring characters to life in ways that resonate with audiences, continually pushing the boundaries of my craft while preserving the spirit of storytelling that first inspired me. In summary, my “why” is driven by a profound love for acting and a commitment to telling stories that matter. This passion fuels my journey and motivates me to continually evolve as an artist, embracing new opportunities while honoring the timeless art of performance.

One significant fact about myself is that my parents grew up poor. While it might not be the typical party greeting, this fact has profoundly shaped who I am as a person. My parents were raised on the bad side of San Antonio, Texas. My father was the child of immigrants, and my mother and her four siblings were raised by a single mother. Both my parents were the first in their families to attend college, achieving this by working multiple jobs and striving to build a better life for their children. Growing up, my parents often reminded my brother and I of their humble beginnings, yet they always spoke of how happy they were. They didn’t have much, but they were surrounded by others who were also struggling, creating a strong sense of community. Despite their financial hardships, they always found ways to give back to others. My parents instilled in me that even if you don’t have a lot, you can still give to others—a quote that has always stuck with me. As I grew up, my dedication to service became a central part of my life. My passion for volunteering was sparked by my Girl Scout troop. To me it wasn’t just about selling cookies; it was packaging hats and gloves for homeless shelters, and serving at soup kitchens. In middle school, I joined the Junior Optimist Club, where I participated in toy drives, food drives, and Township events. Continuing this momentum in high school, I joined Community Service Corps (CSC), a similar community service club. During my junior year, I was selected to be part of the Pantheron executive board. Pantheron is a dance marathon that raises money for Archdiocesan special schools, CHOP, and the Lenny Martelli Foundation. The event required extensive planning and hard work, with weekly meetings from November to April. We organized fundraisers throughout the year, culminating in an eight-hour dance marathon. Combined throughout my junior and senior year, Pantheron raised over $85,000. Currently, I am heading into my sophomore year at Syracuse University, pursuing a BFA in Acting with a minor in Business. I am passionate about the performing arts because they unite people. At school, I continue my dedication to service by being involved with Upskill, a club that tutors children of all ages at nearby schools, and the Food Recovery Network, which donates unused dining hall food to homeless shelters. I love college, I am dedicated to community service, and earning my degree. However, it is no secret that college is expensive, and it is challenging to balance working to pay for school and dedicating time to service. This year Syracuse has raised tuition by $5,000, increasing the financial burden. Receiving this scholarship would help alleviate this burden, allowing me to focus on my studies, maintain my 3.9 GPA, and continue my dedication to community service.

The sizzle of the hamburgers on the grill, the ferris wheel going around and around. You are standing in the middle of the Mother Of Divine Providence Parish community carnival, an annual fundraiser for my parish that has been happening since I was five years old. The best part? My parents were part of the effort that went into this event, and I loved it even more when I was asked to help. Every year, as I got older, I chipped in more and more. When I turned 14, I was finally allowed to become a committee member, like the rest of my family. The event takes place in September, but planning starts in March. During the final event, I arrive at the Parish at 4:00 PM with other volunteers so that we can make sure everything is set up before the event starts at 6:30 PM. Throughout the night, I smell like oil because I was making the French fries, or running boxes to restock food or condiments. Sometimes, I catch my breath while I work the register. No matter what, I am on the go, looking for the next thing I can help with. The event ends at 10:00 PM, but I leave the premises around 11:30 PM. This routine is repeated for all three days of the event. I would not trade this hard work for anything because it pays off. Once all attendees go home and cleanup is done, all of the volunteers gather to read the numbers of how much money was raised. The 2022 Carnival raised a record-breaking $56,000, for my Parish. For me, this event sparked my love for community service and was just the start. In high school, on top of helping out with the carnival, I was also the president of a nonprofit at my high school. Junior year of high school, I was selected to be a part of my high school’s Pantheron Executive Board. Pantheron is a mini-thon, a smaller version of THON. The night of the dance marathon event is not until late April, but meetings start in early November. Leading up to the event, several fundraisers, including dine-n-donuts, pretzel days, donut days, and stall days, are held, which all involve a lot of planning and organizing. As students raised more money, they could earn tier prizes. All of the tier prizes were selected and ordered by the committee, and student totals had to be updated on the website every week. All of the preparation was worth it because of the good it does. All of the money raised is split up and given to CHOP, Archdiocesan Special Schools, and the Lenny Martelli Foundation. Combined, my junior and senior years, Pantheron raised $86,700. Now in college, I am continuing my philanthropic efforts as a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at Syracuse University. As an organization we raise money through our philanthropy events throughout the year towards Theta's national philanthropy CASA, an organization that trains court appointed special advocates for kids harmed in foster care. This past April, we raised over $5,000 during Theta Tots, where we sold tater tots to the Syracuse community. In addition I am involved in two other community service organizations at Syracuse. I am involved with the Food Recovery Network, which helps organize transportation of uneaten dining hall food to surrounding food banks and homeless shelters. Additionally, I am also a tutor for Upskill - an organization that tutors students of all ages from surrounding school districts. I am excited to continue my dedication to community service, helping better my community.

Pauline Medina 07/30/24 Combined Worlds The Impact of Differences Travel is more than just a journey from one place to another; it is an immersive experience that opens the door to personal growth and development. The transformative power of travel lies in its ability to expose individuals to different cultures, perspectives, and environments, fostering a deeper understanding of the world and oneself. My journey of understanding and appreciating differences began early in my life. I was born in Texas and moved to Philadelphia at a young age. However, I frequently visited Texas, where I still have family. These visits exposed me to a variety of differences: traditions, traffic, popular sports, career aspirations, and of course the food. The contrast between the two places was striking. Both places offered me two distinct perspectives on life. I once stumbled upon a quote on Instagram that said, "Don't be the reason why somebody stops doing something they love." This statement resonated with me, teaching me a valuable lesson about embracing differences. Whether it's an outfit that makes me feel great or a song that I love, I realized that what brings joy to one person might not have the same effect on another. This Instagram quote put into perspective that these differences I have witnessed all my life are just that— differences. Neither was better nor worse, just different experiences shaped by unique environments and cultures. Exposure to different perspectives has been instrumental in shaping my worldview. By immersing myself in diverse environments, I learned to appreciate and respect differences rather than judge them. My travels throughout my life have challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and adapt to new environments. Travel not only broadens our horizons but also deepens our empathy. By connecting with people from different backgrounds, I have learned to see the world through their eyes. Through my travels I have come to realize how important travel is. Travel teaches us to embrace differences, broadens our perspectives, and equips us with the resilience to navigate life’s challenges. As I continue my journey, I carry with me the lessons learned from my travels, constantly striving to be a more understanding, empathetic, and globally conscious individual.

I attended a Catholic High school that had a very predominantly white student population. To put it into perspective out the 750 student body, about 5% were people of color. This atmosphere sometimes made me feel confused because about how to celebrate my Mexican heritage because of the lack of other cultural backgrounds. During my senior year of high school, another Latina student approached me in the hallway. She recounted an incident where a peer had told her to "go back to mowing his lawn" the previous day. This deeply offensive comment understandably shook her, and I was equally appalled that such bigotry existed within our school community. She approached me with a proposal to start a diversity club, and I enthusiastically agreed to join her. Together, we approached our assistant principal and received permission to establish the club. Our inaugural project was to create a Dia de los Muertos ofrenda in the school cafeteria. This initiative aimed not only to honor a cherished cultural tradition but also to foster understanding and inclusivity among our peers. "Love Thy Neighbor" became the name of our club, a principle deeply rooted in our Catholic school ethos and one that resonates with me personally. Launching "Love Thy Neighbor" was a catalyst for positive change within our school. It empowered students to embrace diversity and cultivate a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued. By celebrating cultural differences, we helped minority students feel supported and recognized—a source of immense pride for me. One of the most important parts of this initiative was that it continues for future high school classes. As we were both seniors we made sure to pass the leadership to underclassmen in the club. This made sure that the celebration in diversity continues in a predominantly white school community, continuing an inclusive environment for classes to come. Overcoming the initial adversity of encountering prejudice has shaped me profoundly. It has reinforced my commitment to standing up against discrimination and promoting harmony within any community I am a part of. Through this experience, I have learned the importance of resilience and collective action in addressing societal challenges. For those facing similar circumstances, my advice would be to take action. Start conversations, seek allies, and advocate for change. By uniting in solidarity, we can create environments where diversity is celebrated, and every individual feels a sense of belonging. Embrace differences, educate others, and never underestimate the power of empathy and understanding in overcoming adversity. Moving forward, I am determined to continue advocating for inclusivity and social justice in all aspects of my life. Whether through organizing events, participating in discussions, or supporting peers, I strive to be a catalyst for positive change. By fostering empathy and mutual respect, we can build communities where prejudice and discrimination have no place, and where every voice is heard and valued.

I just finished my first year at Syracuse University pursuing my BFA in Acting. This degree is helping me pursue my dream of being an actor. I want to be an actor because no place on Earth makes me feel more at home than on a stage. Ever since I was six years old and played Wendy in Peter Pan at my local summer camp, I knew I wanted to be on stage. Over the years a lot has changed in my life. I have lived in several different houses, attended several different schools, and played several different sports. Throughout it all one thing remained the same, my love for acting. All of my life I have been in shows (community, school, etc) and every single time my passion for it only grows stronger. Not just being on the stage, but the training and hard work that goes into the craft. I love how in acting you are able to tell someone else’s story, but at the same time add in aspects of yourself and your life. A lot of people have a hobby or activity that helps them blow off steam and escape the stress and realities of their own lives, for some it’s lifting weights at the gym or shooting hoops on the basketball court, for me that activity is acting. I can channel all of the good, bad and in between into my performance. The out of body feeling I get when I am so into a performance is a feeling that I will never forget. Not to mention the freedom and creativity that comes along with acting. I can be any type of character, one job I could be playing a cop, the other job, a criminal. Whether it is through a play, musical, or a movie, a story of a famous celebrity, politician, or just an ordinary person whose story I get to portray. Not only can you play a variety of roles but all of it can help do something that is extraordinary and rare in today’s world, unite people. In August I saw Dear Evan Hansen in Philadelphia. For those two and a half hours, everyone in the theater was in the same place, at the same time, united, with one thing in common, what show they were seeing. As we all sat in our seats, we watched the incredible actors tell an amazing story which took us as an audience on one emotional rollercoaster. There is so much creativity and imagination that surrounds acting, It is an exciting, whirlwind field that I am eager and anxious to explore. Growing up I always dreamt of turning my passion into a career, now I am making that dream come true.

I just finished my first year of BFA acting training at Syracuse University. As part of the first-year curriculum, there are four student conferences throughout the year. This means that at the middle and end of each semester, I receive feedback from several of my acting professors on my performance in class: what I am doing well, what I am not doing well, and what to improve upon going forward. Each one of my conferences throughout the year has benefited me, helping me put my training into perspective and better myself as a performer and student. Each of my conferences has been filled with advice from my professors that has stuck with me, but there is one specific piece that I will never forget. When it came time for my final conference of the year during the last week of class, I was feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. I was proud of the hard work I had already done but was still scared about what my professors would say. One of my favorite professors, Thom Miller, said to me, “Pauline, sometimes you don’t fully commit to your choices because they are bold, but you’re scared. You work very hard to become a good actor, but what I really want you to do is focus on becoming the bravest person in the room.” He explained further, “The choices you make are brilliant but not fully committed to, but by being the bravest in the room and committing, you will become a great actor.” These words were forever engraved in my mind after hearing them. When I look back on my life in thirty years, I want to be able to tell myself that I followed that piece of advice. In thirty years, I will consider my life successful if I have been performing for the majority of it. I want to perform in National Tours, Broadway, television, film, and the West End. A career like that will be made by making the brave choice, by putting everything into every performance and every audition room I set foot into. Additionally, I aim to challenge myself by taking on a variety of roles that push my boundaries and help me grow as an actor. Although I have my goals of where I want to perform, at heart, I want to do what I love. I know it may sound corny or cheesy, but to me, “making it” in this industry means that I am constantly performing. I want to be constantly in and out of auditions, rehearsal rooms, and performances. Moreover, I aspire to leave a positive impact on every project I am part of, ensuring that my dedication and passion inspire others around me. Most importantly, I will find success in the way my co-workers describe me. It is my sincere hope that people say I am a good actor but an even greater person. As my career goes on, I want each contract to be filled with amazing friendships and bonds that I create with my fellow cast and crew members. Building a supportive and creative community within the industry is just as important to me as achieving personal success. By fostering meaningful relationships and showing genuine kindness and respect to everyone I work with, I believe I can contribute to a positive and collaborative environment in the performing arts.

I believe in the small things, and that is how I plan to make a positive impact in the world—by doing the small things. My passion for service started in middle and high school, when I was a part of community service clubs. Within these clubs, I had the opportunity to volunteer throughout my community. Sometimes it was helping with “Night to Shine,” a special needs prom for a few hours, a morning hanging out with disabled kids, or serving food at a soup kitchen. Each of these events only took up a small amount of my time, but they made a positive impact in my community. When I’m not directly serving, I continue my dedication to the small things. I try to help out with the little things as much as I can, from holding the door for a stranger, picking up trash, offering food to any homeless person I pass by, and so much more. These small acts of kindness accumulate over time, creating ripples of positivity that can spread far and wide. I believe that even the smallest gesture can make a significant difference in someone's day and, ultimately, in the world. In my first year at Syracuse, everybody living on campus is required to purchase an unlimited dining plan. On my way to class, there are sometimes one or two homeless people two streets away from campus. With my unlimited dining plan, I found this as an opportunity. In the dining hall, there are protein bars, bags of chips, and easy grab-and-go food items. Due to my dining plan, I would always grab double and keep them in my backpack to give if I ran into someone in need of food on the street. A Kind bar may not be much, but I hope it helped a little to those people in need. I believe that people are like plants; they are products of their surroundings. By that, I mean you can’t give a plant no water and keep them in a dark room, and then wonder why it isn’t growing. I believe that everyone is born good, but the darkness of the world can keep it shielded, stopping it from blooming. It is my hope that my positive attitude and love can help everyone blossom. Ultimately, my philosophy is that change starts with one person and one small act at a time. By continuing to engage in these small but meaningful actions and encouraging others to do the same, I hope to create a ripple effect of kindness and positivity that can influence the world around me. I am committed to this path, knowing that even the smallest contributions can lead to significant and lasting change.

When I was six years old I played Wendy in Peter Pan at my local summer camp, and I knew I wanted to be on stage. Over the years a lot has changed in my life. I have lived in several different houses, attended several different schools, and played several different sports. Throughout it all one thing remained the same, my love for acting. All of my life I have been in shows (community, school, etc) and every single time my passion for it only grows stronger. Not just being on the stage, but the training and hard work that goes into the craft. A lot of people have a hobby or activity that helps them blow off steam and escape the stress and realities of their own lives, for some it’s lifting weights at the gym or shooting hoops on the basketball court, for me that activity is acting. I can channel all of the good, bad and in between into my performance. The out of body feeling I get when I am so into a performance is a feeling that I will never forget. Not to mention the freedom and creativity that comes along with acting. Additionally I love how I can help unite people. In August I saw Dear Evan Hansen in Philadelphia. For those two and a half hours, everyone in the theater was in the same place, at the same time, united, with one thing in common, what show they were seeing. As we all sat in our seats, we watched the incredible actors tell an amazing story which took us as an audience on one emotional rollercoaster. There is so much creativity and imagination that surrounds acting, it is an exciting, whirlwind field that I am eager and anxious to explore. Growing up I always dreamt of turning my passion into a career, now I am making that dream come true. We all know as soon as you begin High School, so do questions about your college and major. Luckily for me, from my freshmen year, my high school director told me that if I was really passionate about pursuing acting, I should audition for college BFA programs. When the time came junior and senior year, that's exactly what I did. From the first time I toured Syracuse and learned about their acting program, I knew it was my first choice. The program had top notch training, study abroad options, and everything I could ask for in a program. It became my number one choice, but I knew that it was very competitive, with a class size of 28 from over 1,000 applicants and I never dreamt that I could get in. Still I worked hard with several coaches, put in the work, and it paid off. I will never forget the feeling I had opening my acceptance letter, especially the happy tears my mom and I shed while we hugged each other after. Now finishing my first year at my dream program I can't wait to continue all the growth I have already made. However, Syracuse is a private University with a very expensive tuition, which will be increasing another $10,000 next school year. This worries my family, and any scholarship amount would help offset the cost, so that I can continue doing what I love.

Back in elementary school, I was 7 years old and it was a snow day! Of course like any other young kid who lived in a snowy climate, I loved snow days. Not only did I love them because we didn't have school but I loved what the day would entail. I loved waking up halfway through the day, I loved walking over to my neighbors door and asking to go sledding. I loved the snowball fights that would follow, I loved how we would sit in our pajamas in front of the fire place while our wet clothes was in the dryer and that is exactly what we did this snow day. Now my best friend Lizzy and I were sitting in our pajamas with mugs of hot chocolate trying to decide what movie we should watch. Then my older brother came into the room and suggested we play Mario Kart instead. We each grabbed a controller and started the game. Our competitive selves got so competitive, we would actually bump each other when we hit the other with a mushroom, and our full bodies would drift when our characters did. Our competitive energy was at an all time high when it came to the last game. My brother was in first place and I was in second (as a younger sister, beating my brother for first place in Mario Kart felt like the equivalent to finding a bar of gold). We both were on our final lap, and I was right behind him, I was so close to beating him, I could taste the victory in my mouth. Until, the final turn in rainbow road, I had gotten too excited and didn't drift enough. My car went sliding off along with all of hope of winning. I yelled "nooooo" and as soon as the little cloud dropped me back off on the track I drifted with my full body. The only problem with that is, I was so into the game I had no awareness where I was and more importantly my mug of hot chocolate. Trying to drift I leaned my whole body to the right, leaning over the coffee table, right where my mug was. My momentum had knocked over my mug and the hot chocolate spilled all over the rug. All three of us were in disbelief, me more from losing to my brother but also the massive spill on the carpet. In a panic as soon as we all crossed the finish line (my best friend ended in 12th, as usual), all three of us raced to the kitchen to grab some paper towels. We dabbed up as much as we could and then there were still little puddles spread out on the carpet. Then, we heard one of the most terrifying sounds a child could hear, the footsteps of their parent. We all look up and then at each other with worry in our face. Then we noticed, the stain was barely noticeable, and took a collective deep breath. Luckily for us, my mother did not notice the stain on the carpet either. That carpet remained in my living with the stain, until my senior year of high school, when my mom decided she wanted to switch it up and get a new one.

Currently I am a freshman at Syracuse University studying to get a BFA in acting. I want to be an actor because no place on Earth makes me feel more at home than on a stage. Ever since I was six years old and played Wendy in Peter Pan at my local summer camp, I knew I wanted to be on stage. Over the years a lot has changed in my life. I have lived in several different houses, attended several different schools, and played several different sports. Throughout it all one thing remained the same, my love for acting. All of my life I have been in shows (community, school, etc) and every single time my passion for it only grows stronger. Not just being on the stage, but the training and hard work that goes into the craft. I love how in acting you are able to tell someone else’s story, but at the same time add in aspects of yourself and your life. A lot of people have a hobby or activity that helps them blow off steam and escape the stress and realities of their own lives, for some it’s lifting weights at the gym or shooting hoops on the basketball court, for me that activity is acting. I can channel all of the good, bad and in between into my performance. The out of body feeling I get when I am so into a performance is a feeling that I will never forget. Not to mention the freedom and creativity that comes along with acting. I can be any type of character, one job I could be playing a cop, the other job, a criminal, the one after that I am playing an alien! The possibilities are endless! Whether it is through a play, musical, or a movie, a story of a famous celebrity, politician, or just an ordinary person or maybe even an animal, it does not matter whose story I get to portray, my passion and desire to tell the story will never go away. As an actor not only can you play a variety of roles but all of it can help do something that is extraordinary and rare in today’s world, unite people. Last August I saw Dear Evan Hansen in Philadelphia. For those two and a half hours, everyone in the theater was in the same place, at the same time, united, with one thing in common, what show they were seeing. As we all sat in our seats, we watched the incredible actors tell an amazing story which took us as an audience on one emotional rollercoaster. There is so much creativity and imagination that surrounds acting, It is an exciting, whirlwind field that I am eager and anxious to explore. Growing up I always dreamt of turning my passion into a career, now I am making that dream come true.

“It roars”, I hear Erika Henningsen sing in Mean Girls on Broadway. I was thirteen and it was my first Broadway show. Seeing the Original Broadway cast of Mean Girls on Broadway was so amazing, it instilled in me what I had known for such a long time, I wanted to be an actor. When I was six, I played Wendy in my summer camp's production of Peter Pan, then I got the lead in my third grade musical. My love for performing only grew the more I did it. Over the years a lot has changed in my life. I have lived in several different houses, attended several different schools, and played several different sports. Throughout it all one thing remained the same, my love for acting. I went from my middle school musical, community theatre, to intensives in New York to work with Broadway actors and industry professionals, my high school’s musical and now I am studying for my BFA in acting at Syracuse University, one of the most renowned programs in the country. Like many people, I have thought about what college I wanted to go to ever since I knew what it was. Especially, my parents both being the first in their family to attend, a college degree has a whole nother meaning to me. Growing up I always dreamt of being an actor but I figured it was just that, a dream. Until I grew up and realized that there are successful actors out there. The performing arts program at my high school alone has several alumni who also went on to complete their acting degrees and now are professional working actors. A combination of the support of my family, friends, and directors and the opportunities around me, I realized that I can go to college for acting. The audition process was no easy task, from working two part time jobs to afford audition coaching, having two - three auditions a week, all while maintaining my good grades and staying involved in extracurriculars. At the end of it, all the hard work was worth it. I had been accepted into my dream program at Syracuse University. With only 50 being offered admission out of the 1,000 applicants it was a huge honor and still I can not believe it's real. The program has everything I could ask for and I am loving every minute of my training. I am receiving conservatory-style training taught by working actors and industry professionals. I also am looking forward to studying abroad in London my junior year and in New York for the final semester of my senior year. There is so much this program has to offer and I am so grateful that I get to take it all in. At the end of my four years I hope to move to New York or Los Angeles and pursue a full time acting career. I hope to be on Broadway, West End, television Shows, movies and so much more. I know it will not be easy but, I know it is what I am passionate about.