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Izza Virani

2,125

Bold Points

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Finalist

Bio

My background is unique: although I am South Asian, a 1st generation American citizen, and the first child of two immigrant parents. I am a BIPOC female high school student in a predominantly white area, and I am constantly working to prove myself beyond the Asian stereotype placed on me by many in my community: I am more than just my academics--my voice is not just a grade. Although I will not be a first-generation college student, I am the first person in my family to go through the traditional 4-year college application process. My goal is to maximize every opportunity available to streamline this new process for my family and me, hoping to provide an example for my younger sibling when it is his turn to undergo this process. My passion lies with you—exploring the stories of those around me and understanding what makes you who you are now. I am confident in myself and my abilities, and I want to work to encourage others to realize their full capabilities. I especially aim to work to inspire those in the South Asian community to use their voices beyond the boundaries of academia and school that society has so long placed on our race. I want to inspire my community to speak out and be confident in our being as American Brown girls. Through my passion for the entertainment industry, I hope to push the boundaries of what a modern-day leading woman in Hollywood can look like, revolutionizing how we, as brown girls, carry ourselves in society today.

Education

New York University

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2028
  • Majors:
    • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

New Trier Township H S Winnetka

High School
2020 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
    • Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
    • Communication, General
    • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
    • Marketing
    • General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
    • Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Media Production

    • Dream career goals:

    • Customer Experience Employee

      Chalet
      2022 – Present2 years

    Sports

    Dancing

    Intramural
    2009 – Present15 years

    Research

    • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

      WNTH Radio — Intern
      2022 – 2022

    Arts

    • Don't Mention It - Podcast

      https://tinyurl.com/dontmentionitpodcast
      2022 – Present
    • WNTH Radio

      Radio
      2020 – Present
    • New Trier Dance Division

      Dance
      New Trier Dance Day 2023
      2020 – Present
    • New Trier Choir

      Music
      Emma The Musical, Joseph and the Technical Dreamcoat
      2020 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Global Encounters, Aga Khan Development Network — Volunteer/Participant
      2023 – 2023
    • Advocacy

      Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Org — New Trier High School Representative, Illinois North Regional Conference
      2022 – 2022
    • Advocacy

      Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Org. — Illinois North Region World Leadership Conference Delegate
      2022 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Camp Mosaic, Jubilee Monuments Corp. — Summer Camp Counselor
      2020 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Midwest AKYSB — Youth Board President
      2021 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Creative Arts Scholarship
    I cannot remember a time in my life without music. I’ve been singing since I was three, performing in musical theater since I was five, and participating in choir since I was six. Although I aspired to pursue a career in singing, I have since discovered a passion for entertainment journalism, relegating singing to a hobby. An artist who has profoundly influenced this new direction is Ta-Nehisi Coates. Reading his book *Between the World and Me* was transformative, reshaping my understanding of my identity and aspirations. Coates writes about the fear and violence that Black men face that was turned into contributions of Black people to American society despite their oppression. As a South Asian female, I face a different kind of discrimination, rooted in the stereotypes of the Model Minority Myth and Bollywood, expecting me to be smart, hardworking, obedient, and submissive, while simultaneously being sensual, foreign, and exotic. One of my favorite experiences in the arts has been performing in musical theater productions at my school. Although I hadn’t performed musicals since my children’s theater days, I was reminded of the sense of camaraderie, the thrill of being on stage, and the joy of bringing a story to life as part of a bigger ensemble. However, attending a majority white school, I often found myself as the only person of color on stage. These experiences reinforced my love for the arts and highlighted the importance of representation and diversity in the entertainment industry. Hence, my career aspirations shifted due to the cultural and domestic environment I grew up in. The Model Minority Myth, coined in 1960 by sociologist William Petersen, described the success of a few Japanese American families post-World War II. It rationalized their success by limiting their expression, depicting Asian Americans as hardworking, smart, and easy to manage. This stereotype has long deceived the South Asian community into believing that we could only be intelligent, diligent, and compliant, and holding jobs that embodied these values quickly became prevalent within our community. Even with the evolving attitudes of the new generation of South Asian parents, the burdens of these expectations and stereotypes still oppress young South Asians. Coupled with a scarce number of South Asians in the entertainment field, emerging young adults do not feel they have the opportunity to thrive in the industry. My journey into entertainment journalism is fueled by a desire to explore and address the lack of South Asian representation in the industry. I want to investigate how societal and cultural pressures influence career choices within the brown community and whether there is a correlation between the Model Minority Myth and this lack of representation. By examining the history, causes, and effects of the lack of South Asian representation in the entertainment industry, I aim to shed light on the challenges that South Asian Americans face in pursuing their artistic passions. As the entertainment industry becomes more diverse, it is crucial to amplify the voices and stories of South Asians and other marginalized groups. Inspired by Ta-Nehisi Coates, I aspire to be part of this change and use my platform to celebrate and support the talent of my own South Asian community, enriching our culture and society today.