Hobbies and interests
Music Production
Advocacy And Activism
Business And Entrepreneurship
Reading
Academic
Adventure
Business
Classics
Education
Fantasy
How-To
Literary Fiction
Literature
Self-Help
Politics
Music
Philosophy
Sports and Games
I read books multiple times per week
Joshua Stephany
5,265
Bold Points40x
Nominee1x
FinalistJoshua Stephany
5,265
Bold Points40x
Nominee1x
FinalistBio
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 programMajors:
- Music
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
Career
Dream career field:
Music
Dream career goals:
Music Producer, Music Artist
Owner
Stream Studios2020 – Present4 yearsSenior Specialist, Government Affairs and Public Policy
Whyte Hirschbeck Dudek S.C.2011 – 20121 yearPerformer/Artist
GidKidDad2020 – Present4 yearsOwner
The Green Room Billiards2012 – 20131 yearPolitical Consultant
JSK Consulting2009 – 20145 yearsFinance Director/Sales Manager
Racine Hyundai2014 – 20162 yearsGeneral Sales Manager/Finance Director
Umansky Auto Group2016 – 20182 yearsGeneral Manager
Hyundai Greenfield2018 – 20191 year
Sports
Pool
Club2004 – Present20 years
Awards
- Masters World Champion Qualifier 2021
Research
Social Sciences, Other
Advancing Wisconsin — Deputy Development Director2009 – 2010
Arts
Carolers - Case HS
MusicDecember 2004, December 2005, December 2006, December 20072004 – 2007Beauty and the Beast - Case HS
ActingNovember 20062006 – 2006Grease The Musical - Case HS
ActingNovember 20072007 – 2007GidkidDad
MusicRun a music channel and perform weekly2020 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
TWLOHA - To Write Love On Her Arms — Fundraiser2020 – 2021Volunteering
StackUp.Org — Fundraiser2020 – 2020Volunteering
Starlight Children's Foundation — Fundraiser2020 – 2020Volunteering
WIGI - Women In Games International — Fundraiser2020 – 2020Volunteering
RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network — Fundraiser2020 – 2021Volunteering
DBSA - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance — Fundraiser2020 – 2020Volunteering
Feeding America — Fundraiser2020 – 2020Advocacy
JSK Consulting — Political Consultant2008 – 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.