For DonorsFor Applicants
user profile avatar

Joshua Stephany

5,265

Bold Points

40x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

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

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Music

    • Dream career goals:

      Music Producer, Music Artist

    • Owner

      Stream Studios
      2020 – Present4 years
    • Senior Specialist, Government Affairs and Public Policy

      Whyte Hirschbeck Dudek S.C.
      2011 – 20121 year
    • Performer/Artist

      GidKidDad
      2020 – Present4 years
    • Owner

      The Green Room Billiards
      2012 – 20131 year
    • Political Consultant

      JSK Consulting
      2009 – 20145 years
    • Finance Director/Sales Manager

      Racine Hyundai
      2014 – 20162 years
    • General Sales Manager/Finance Director

      Umansky Auto Group
      2016 – 20182 years
    • General Manager

      Hyundai Greenfield
      2018 – 20191 year

    Sports

    Pool

    Club
    2004 – Present20 years

    Awards

    • Masters World Champion Qualifier 2021

    Research

    • Social Sciences, Other

      Advancing Wisconsin — Deputy Development Director
      2009 – 2010

    Arts

    • Carolers - Case HS

      Music
      December 2004, December 2005, December 2006, December 2007
      2004 – 2007
    • Beauty and the Beast - Case HS

      Acting
      November 2006
      2006 – 2006
    • Grease The Musical - Case HS

      Acting
      November 2007
      2007 – 2007
    • GidkidDad

      Music
      Run a music channel and perform weekly
      2020 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      TWLOHA - To Write Love On Her Arms — Fundraiser
      2020 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      StackUp.Org — Fundraiser
      2020 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      Starlight Children's Foundation — Fundraiser
      2020 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      WIGI - Women In Games International — Fundraiser
      2020 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network — Fundraiser
      2020 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      DBSA - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance — Fundraiser
      2020 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      Feeding America — Fundraiser
      2020 – 2020
    • Advocacy

      JSK Consulting — Political Consultant
      2008 – 2013

    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