Mental health has been a huge part of my life. It’s like this background noise that’s always been there, and while I’ve learned to deal with it, it influences everything I do. It’s a lens I see the world now. I’ve got depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and PTSD. That’s the reality, and yeah, it’s a lot to juggle. But it’s also part of why I want to go into performing arts. I grew up in a pretty messed-up household, to say the least. My dad was manipulative, gaslighting, and always very controlling. It was a constant emotional rollercoaster, and I never really knew what was real or not. It wasn’t until I started seeing a psychiatrist that I realized that the way I reacted wasn’t the same as most people. The way he made me feel like I was never enough, like nothing I did was right, the constant fear of saying the wrong thing was an awful was to be brought up and takes a toll on your self-image. My parents divorced when I was 16, but honestly, I knew since I was about 8 years old that they needed to separate. It’s just that everything was so tangled up in manipulation and lies that I didn’t even know what a healthy relationship was supposed to look like. The finalization of their divorce just happened a few months ago, and while it brought some relief, there are a lot of scars to unpack. But it’s been a huge part of how I view life, relationships, and, honestly, the whole world. I’ve been forced to figure out my emotional landscape in a way a lot of people don’t have to. And to add insult to injury both of my parents still live under the same roof. While of course all of this has been a challenge, it’s also shaped my perspective on art and storytelling. It’s made me realize how important it is to tell stories that are messy, raw, and real. Not the polished, cookie-cutter narratives we often get fed, but the stories of people who are struggling, who are complicated, who are fighting their demons. That’s what I want to bring to the stage. I want to tell untold stories, stories like mine, and like the stories of so many people who don’t feel like they have a voice. I want to tell these stories in a way that people can handle. I’m not trying to trauma dump on people, but I want to take these sensitive, tough topics and bring them into a space where they can be discussed, processed, and understood. Like, why not put this kind of raw emotion into a musical or a play, where people can walk away with something more than just feeling sad or uncomfortable, they can walk away with understanding? That’s my goal as an artist. I want to take the messiness of mental health, of family trauma, of the things that feel too heavy to talk about, and transform them into something that resonates, something that people can see and say, “Oh, that’s me,” or “I never thought about it like that.” On a personal level, all of this has changed the way I relate to people, too. I’m a lot more empathetic now. I have become the friend people rely on and go to for advice because they know I can relate for the most part. I have had to heal myself mostly on my own I haven't had a therapist in months, and these last few months have been the most important in my journey.

Okay, let me tell you why I have to go to college and why it’s not just some random next step, it’s important for me to get the training and education that will help me grow as a performer. I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist, but it’s not enough to just want it. That’s why I want to pursue higher education in musical theatre. I want to learn everything I can about the techniques that will elevate my performance. Everything from voice training to dance techniques to acting methods. The world of musical theatre is huge, and there’s so much I want to explore. From the history of the art form to modern advancements in performance, I need a place that’s going to teach me all of that. College is the place where I can finally learn from experts, get the training I’ve been craving, and refine my skills in ways I just can’t do on my own or in my current environment. I know this is the next step to becoming the performer I’ve always dreamed of being. But let me tell you, it’s not been easy getting to this point. Like, not even close. I’m a first-generation student, so I’m navigating this whole process without a roadmap. My family didn’t go to college, so I didn’t have anyone to guide me through the application process or teach me about the ins and outs of financial aid. But I’m not about to let that stop me. I’ve spent hours researching how to apply, what schools are the best fit for me, and how to get financial help. I applied to as many scholarships as I could find like, I’m talking about everything from the big ones to the smaller, local scholarships that barely anyone else applies to. As far as the financial aid goes, I didn’t just sit back and wait for the money to come to me. I filled out all the forms, learned how to navigate the FAFSA, and made sure I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. I know that going to college is going to be a huge financial burden, but I’m doing everything I can to minimize that. And let’s talk about my GPA for a second. Yeah, it’s not perfect. I know that. It’s not ideal for some schools, and I’m not going to pretend it is. But that’s where my prescreens came in, because if my grades weren’t going to do all the talking, my talent had to. I’ve been putting everything I’ve got into these auditions, making sure my prescreens are as perfect as humanly possible. I’ve been practicing my songs, my monologues, my dance routines, and I’ve made sure everything is polished. I know I’m not getting in just by showing up, I have to bring my A-game, every single time. I’ve taken feedback from every audition I’ve done, worked tirelessly to get better, and learned to let go of my nerves and perform like my future depends on it… because it does. So yeah, this isn’t just about getting into college; it’s about building a future for myself where I can live my dream of becoming a successful performer in musical theatre. I’ve worked too hard, put in too many hours, and come too far to just let my circumstances define me. I may not come from the perfect background, I may not have the perfect GPA, but I have the drive and passion to succeed.

I’ve said this a million times, but it’s not just a “dream” anymore—it’s something deep inside me that I can’t shake. From the moment I saw Eva Noblezada in Miss Saigon, I knew I had a purpose. Watching her perform wasn’t just watching someone sing. She wasn’t just belting out a song, she was feeling every word. It was raw. You could feel her soul on stage. I swear, I was sitting there, completely captivated, and I thought, I want to do that. I want to make people feel what she made me feel. Growing up, I didn’t have the same opportunities that some others did. We didn’t have money for classes or the connections some kids had. My family worked hard but didn’t live in a world of privilege. And yet, somehow, the arts were always there. Even if we couldn’t afford theater tickets, we always had music, stories, and creativity around us. The arts weren’t just performance, they were a way to connect. They gave me a way to express feelings I didn’t always have words for. I wanted to tell stories that made people feel less alone, that gave them something to connect to. What I didn’t realize back then, but I get now, is that growing up in New Jersey and Arizona gave me a unique perspective. I wasn’t in the city, but I wasn’t in a tiny town either. I was always close enough to big cultural centers to feel their pulse, but never fully in them. It made me long for something more, something bigger. Every class, every audition, every chance to perform, I had to fight for it. And yeah, there were a lot of “no’s” and “maybe next times,” but that just made me want it more. I’d get frustrated, want to quit some days, but then I’d remember Eva Noblezada and think, She didn’t get to where she is by quitting. Seeing her in The Great Gatsby this summer was a game-changer. Watching her on stage, commanding the space, hitting every word with power, reminded me why I have to do this. It’s not about fame or applause, it’s about truth. Eva doesn’t just perform; she communicates something *real*, something people need to hear. I want to do that. I want to be the person who steps into a character and brings it to life in a way that resonates with people, that makes them feel something deep. I want to tell untold stories, stories of people like me and my family, who fight every day but are often overlooked. The world doesn’t always care about our struggles, our sacrifices, but art has the power to give us that space. Performance is a way to elevate those stories, to show people that their experiences matter. That’s why I’m so passionate about this. The arts changed my life, and I know they can change others, too. I want to do for someone else what Eva did for me, to make them feel something. When I’m performing, it’s not just about getting the lines right or hitting the notes. It’s about creating a connection. I want people to feel less alone, to know their stories matter. I’m not in it for the spotlight, I’m in it because I believe in the power of art to bring people together, to help them understand each other in a way that words alone can’t. That’s why, no matter what, I’m going to keep fighting for this dream.

I’ve said this a million times, but it’s not just a “dream” anymore—it’s something deep inside me that I can’t shake. From the moment I saw Eva Noblezada in Miss Saigon, I knew I had a purpose. Watching her perform wasn’t just watching someone sing. She wasn’t just belting out a song, she was feeling every word. It was raw. You could feel her soul on stage. I swear, I was sitting there, completely captivated, and I thought, I want to do that. I want to make people feel what she made me feel. Growing up, I didn’t have the same opportunities that some others did. We didn’t have money for classes or the connections some kids had. My family worked hard but didn’t live in a world of privilege. And yet, somehow, the arts were always there. Even if we couldn’t afford theater tickets, we always had music, stories, and creativity around us. The arts weren’t just performance, they were a way to connect. They gave me a way to express feelings I didn’t always have words for. I wanted to tell stories that made people feel less alone, that gave them something to connect to. What I didn’t realize back then, but I get now, is that growing up in New Jersey and Arizona gave me a unique perspective. I wasn’t in the city, but I wasn’t in a tiny town either. I was always close enough to big cultural centers to feel their pulse, but never fully in them. It made me long for something more, something bigger. Every class, every audition, every chance to perform, I had to fight for it. And yeah, there were a lot of “no’s” and “maybe next times,” but that just made me want it more. I’d get frustrated, want to quit some days, but then I’d remember Eva Noblezada and think, She didn’t get to where she is by quitting. Seeing her in The Great Gatsby this summer was a game-changer. Watching her on stage, commanding the space, hitting every word with power, reminded me why I have to do this. It’s not about fame or applause, it’s about truth. Eva doesn’t just perform; she communicates something *real*, something people need to hear. I want to do that. I want to be the person who steps into a character and brings it to life in a way that resonates with people, that makes them feel something deep. I want to tell untold stories, stories of people like me and my family, who fight every day but are often overlooked. The world doesn’t always care about our struggles, our sacrifices, but art has the power to give us that space. Performance is a way to elevate those stories, to show people that their experiences matter. That’s why I’m so passionate about this. The arts changed my life, and I know they can change others, too. I want to do for someone else what Eva did for me, to make them feel something. When I’m performing, it’s not just about getting the lines right or hitting the notes. It’s about creating a connection. I want people to feel less alone, to know their stories matter. I’m not in it for the spotlight, I’m in it because I believe in the power of art to bring people together, to help them understand each other in a way that words alone can’t. That’s why, no matter what, I’m going to keep fighting for this dream.

From the moment I first saw Eva Noblezada perform in Miss Saigon, I knew I was hooked. I was just a kid, sitting in the back of my theater classroom, my heart racing, completely captivated by the raw emotion she brought to the stage. I had never seen someone communicate so powerfully with just their voice, their body, their presence. It wasn’t just about singing or acting it was about feeling. She wasn’t just performing; she was telling a story so deeply personal yet universally human that it reached right through the screen and grabbed me. That performance changed everything for me. I was no longer just a kid who liked seeing a show once in a while; I became someone who wanted to step onto the stage, take on a character, and make people feel. I wanted to touch hearts the way Eva did mine, to step into someone else’s shoes, make their grief real, make their joy alive, and make their pain something we could all experience together. Eva’s talent left me and others in the room speechless with tear-covered shirts and faces. I’ve always known I wanted to be a performer, but growing up, I wasn’t always sure how to get there. I came from a family that didn’t exactly pave the way for my artistic dreams. We didn’t have money for fancy classes or an agent. Opportunities felt limited, and it wasn’t always easy to access the arts. I lived in New Jersey though, a place where the arts were everywhere, even if they weren’t always polished or professional. People were expressing themselves in ways that were messy, raw, and real. I wasn’t raised in a world of privilege, but I was raised in a world of expression. And that’s where my passion for storytelling grew. From a young age, I was drawn to the stage. My uncle did auditions in New York, and I would listen to his stories with a longing in my chest. I knew I wanted to do the same. The stage was where I felt most alive. It wasn’t about recognition or applause it was about connection. I wanted to use my art to make people feel seen, to make them feel understood. What I didn’t realize back then, but what I understand now, is that growing up in both New Jersey and suburban Chandler, Arizona gave me a unique lens on the world. These places aren’t exactly known for producing Broadway stars, but they shaped me into who I am. I spent my childhood navigating two very different environments. In New Jersey, I was near New York City, constantly surrounded by the arts. But in Arizona, I found myself in a place that was quieter, slower, and farther from the cultural epicenter. This gave me a deep sense of longing to understand both sides of the world: the raw energy of the city and the stillness of the suburbs. It fueled my desire to explore human emotion, to understand people’s struggles, and to connect on a deeper level. Arizona was where my platform for performing was given to me. I was first on the stage my freshman year, and I haven't left since. Show after show, character after character, and most importantly, story after story. I wasn’t surrounded by typical “mainstream” stories. The stories I grew up with weren’t often the ones being told in the theater or on TV. I grew up watching my family work tirelessly to build lives of dignity in a world that didn’t always offer them opportunities. Their struggles were real, raw, and beautiful and yet they were often overlooked by society. I watched them fight and that planted a seed in me. I wanted to be an artist because I wanted to tell those stories, the ones that go unnoticed, the ones that deserve a voice. Then I saw Eva Noblezada on stage in Miss Saigon. It wasn’t just the power of her voice, it was the way she conveyed grief, desperation, and hope in a way that felt personal, that felt like she was speaking directly to me. I felt every word, every note. It was more than just a performance, it was an experience. I wanted to do that. I wanted to create that connection. I wanted to be the kind of performer who could step into someone else’s shoes and give their story the weight it deserved. After that moment, I immersed myself in every opportunity I could find to learn. I took theater classes, participated in auditions, and even took voice lessons, dance classes, and workshops. Every rejection, every late-night rehearsal, and every critique from my teachers only pushed me harder. I wanted this, and more than anything, I wanted to contribute to a larger conversation about identity, power, and the human experience. The artists who inspire me are the ones who use their platforms to amplify marginalized voices. Eva Noblezada captivates me because of her ability to convey complex, painful truths with such vulnerability. She doesn’t just perform; she makes you feel the character. She reminds me that art is most powerful when it is raw, unapologetic, and real. Getting the chance to see her in The Great Gatsby this summer was one of the greatest gifts I could have ever received. Her performance reinforced my belief that the arts have the power to create empathy, spark change, and elevate voices that are often silenced. I want to be part of that movement. I want to use my craft to tell the untold stories the ones that deserve to be seen, heard, and understood. So, what drives me as an artist? It’s simple. My art is about connection. It’s about using performance to touch people’s hearts and make them feel something real. I create because I want to tell stories that matter, stories that reflect the world we live in, stories that challenge us to think, to feel, to act. My art is my way of contributing to the conversation about who we are and who we could be if we listened to one another. That’s why I want to be a performing artist. Because art has the power to change lives, not just for the audience, but for the artist too. Through performance, I have the chance to shape the world, share experiences, and shed light on the stories that need to be told. And I believe that, just like Eva did for me, I can help others believe that their voices matter too.

I’ve been involved in theatre for three years now, and it's become one of my favorite things. Honestly, I’ve always loved the idea of bringing stories to life, I always say my goal in life is to tell untold stories, but I didn’t expect to fall in love with the technical side of theater. This past fall break, I spent over 20 hours helping build sets and create costumes for our school productions. Yeah, it was time-consuming, but it felt amazing to see the show come together, and know I played a part in making that happen behind the scenes as well as on the stage as a supporting role. This found me at the perfect time because I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’d do if I could start my charity. After school, I want to be a performer, and if I make it big I don't know what I would do with the money so why not use it for something good? So that's when I decided if I could run anything, it would be a nonprofit for single mothers who want to spend time with their kids but need help financially. My mom recently lost her job and just finalized her divorce. I watch her do what she can with my sister but all my sister wants to do is leave the house and do something new. I’d organize free events for kids, like fun arts and crafts days, or movie nights, where the kids can have fun and the moms can have a chance to relax and just breathe for a bit. Volunteers would run these events, making sure the kids are safe, entertained, and happy, while the mothers could enjoy a stress-free, relaxing time, maybe even catching up with other moms in the same boat. It would give moms a place to escape the craziness of home life, and at the same time, they wouldn’t have to worry about the financial strain of going out or doing something fun with their kids. It's all about building a community where both mothers and kids feel supported, loved, and able to get away from the everyday hustle. My mother specifically doesn't go out much because she doesn't have anyone to go out with and I know if she were to meet other moms she could relate with she would make some new friends. I know how hard it can be and if I could help make life a little easier for my mom and give my sister a safe place to just be a kid, I’d be all in. Volunteers would be key in making this happen, from helping with activities to organizing everything behind the scenes. It’d be a real chance to give back, especially to those who need it most. As for after high school, as I briefly mentioned I want to be a performer, I hope to go to school for musical theatre, while still staying connected to helping others, whether that’s through theater, community service, or something else. I want to keep learning and growing, and hopefully, whatever I do, I can keep helping people in some way. This charity idea is something I’m passionate about, and if I could make it happen someday, I definitely would.

Honestly, I’ve been through a lot, and it feels like life just keeps throwing curveballs at me. But somehow, I’ve made it through, and I know that’s made me more determined than ever. When I was a sophomore, my parents separated right before my 16th birthday, and their divorce was finalized right before Thanksgiving. We were all still living together under one roof, which made everything super awkward and tense. It’s hard to have any kind of normal relationship with them when everything feels so hopeless. Then, to make it worse, my mom lost her job in July. And my dad, who’s been disabled since I was a baby, hasn’t been able to work for years. So, he can’t help out much, and his social security barely covers anything. I’ve been the only one working, trying to cover everything I need like gas, food, clothes, and anything I need for school or just to go out with friends. My grandparents have been helping out with my mom, dad, and little sister, but it’s still a lot to handle. On top of all that, I’ve been dealing with mental health stuff since I was 15, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. I’ve been in therapy for a few years, but since we don’t have health insurance, I haven’t been able to see anyone for a while. It makes everything harder, and it feels like the emotional stress from all the financial issues just keeps adding to my burnout and stress. And then there’s all the moving I've gone through. I’ve lived in both Arizona and New Jersey since I was 8. We first moved to Arizona when I was in 3rd grade, then back to New Jersey in 6th grade, and back to Arizona in 2019, just in time for the pandemic. Moving so often has made it hard to build any real stability, especially with school. The curriculums are different in each state, so I’ve had to constantly catch up, and it’s made everything feel a lot harder than it should’ve been. But through all this, I’ve learned a lot. It’s made me independent, responsible, and driven. I’ve learned how to handle myself and keep pushing, even when everything feels impossible. Life has been tough, but it’s also made me who I am today, someone who knows how to fight for what they want. This scholarship is honestly so important for me to keep moving forward. It’s going to take the financial pressure off so I don’t have to stress about covering the basics. It’ll let me focus on what matters, pursuing my dream of becoming a performer. With the financial stress out of the way, I’ll be able to focus more on my craft, my mental health, and just growing as a person. I know that with the right education and support, I’ll be able to create a better future for myself, and eventually give back to everyone who’s been there for me through all of this.

When I was younger, I watched my uncle go in and out of New York City for auditions, I watched him work with actors like Winona Ryder and Jim Carrey. Ever since then, it was a passion, but it never seemed realistic until my freshman year of high school when I auditioned for the school play. Freshman year I went to see my school’s production of Matilda for extra credit in my English class, nothing more than an assignment. However, seeing the dancers on that stage and hearing my school's Jimmy-nominated performer Alyse Negroni sing, I instantly felt motivated to audition for the next play. So in the spring there, I was auditioning for Alice in Wonderland. When I got cast as one of the nine Cheshire cats. Never been on stage before I was excited, and could've never imagined where I am today, every friend I have made since then has come from doing a show or being in my theater classes. Naturally the next year I auditioned for every show and enrolled in a theater class. However, I was not cast as anything more than an understudy for our only two big shows of the year. The next year I auditioned for junior company at my school and got in. From that moment, I was in every show my school did, including my first musical Mean Girls High School Edition. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I realized my teacher always gave me the obscure character, and whenever I would ask her why her response was always “I guess you’re just my muse.” Whether that was to boost my confidence or the truth, it grew my passion even more. My mom was always proud of me for being so committed to my passion and would always go full out even if my character was weird. My mom help me rehearse for everything and always encourageme to make big character choices so that she could see me as a lead. I went to the Open Jar Institute in New York for a summer intensive for musical theater. I learned so many new skills while I was there and made so many connections with current Broadway actors who were in the shows that we would then later, see at night. It was the most incredible experience of my life, being able to meet Jeremy Jordan and speak to many actors like Emma Pittman further proved to me that I want nothing more than, to be honest on stage and touch people's hearts. Whether it was laughing with Casey Likes as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, or crying with the entire audience when Joy Woods sang My Days in the notebook, knowing that everyone was touched by those actors telling their stories was enough to confirm that this is my path. Even as I’m writing this, my instinctive reaction is to write in the past tense as if I’ve already done it because in my mind there is no question, I will be an incredible actor one day and nothing can stop me. Ever since going to New York this past summer, I have been more motivated to commit to everything I do whether it’s writing a script, directing a scene, or performing. because of that dedication, I finally got a lead in my class one act. My mom’s dream was for me to get a lead and now it’s come true. From a girl who was unsure of what her future would hold to a girl knowing the destination and enjoying the amazing journey.

Since I was 12, I wondered what it would be like to live with just my mom or just my dad. Now, at 17, my parents are going through a divorce after being separated for two years. My dad hasn’t worked since I was around one year old because of an injury at work that caused him to be disabled, which made it very hard for my mother Being the source of income for me and my dad and when I turned 12 also being a source of income for my little sister. Doing it alone was hard for her and she was always working or stressed out with work. Because of my dad’s injury, we not only funding ourselves but also his two surgeries and many doctor visits there have been numerous times throughout my life when money had been tight to the point where just getting in the car to go out of the house was too expensive because of gas. Money has always been tight, and my mom recently lost her job. Relying on my grandparents for income, I am currently the only one with a job and I don’t start for another week. On top of not having a lot of money, both me and my mother for a very long time when undiagnosed with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar. Because of our finances, we haven’t been able to go to therapy and will soon need to pay out of pocket for our meds. In school always had a hard time paying attention and with reading comprehension when I could’ve taken some Adderall and been fine. I struggled during my sophomore and junior years of high school. I got COVID-19 at the beginning of my sophomore year and then I had a problem with my immune system and I get sick very frequently. Having a four-year-old sister in school constantly brings home germs from other kids she’s around. I was getting sick at least once a month. Missing all that time from school was already going to hurt my GPA but not being able to focus made it so much worse. I went from having a 4.0 GPA in my freshman year to having a 3.0 GPA. My worst sections of my ACT were English and math because I couldn’t understand what I was reading and I couldn’t focus long enough to figure it out so I would give up choosing something random and move on. I wish I had been diagnosed earlier. Despite these challenges, watching The Notebook on Broadway made me realize the power of storytelling and its potential to bring awareness to mental health issues. My dream is to share my own story through a Broadway production and evoke emotions in the audience. Prior, I had already wanted to be an actor. If I could one day beyond that stage until a story of a 17-year-old girl, just being diagnosed with a full soundtrack and choreography and at the end, feel the emotions of the audience then I would live a happy life.

I was undiagnosed for 17 years, I have depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar. For a large portion of my life, I was easily irritated by small things like the feeling of the water or the way someone spoke and I assumed it was mood swings when really I was bipolar and I could’ve just taken medication instead of brushing it off. In school always had a hard time paying attention and with reading comprehension when I could’ve taken some Adderall and been fine. I struggled during my sophomore and junior years of high school. I got COVID-19 at the beginning of my sophomore year and then I had a problem with my immune system and I get sick very frequently. Having a four-year-old sister in school constantly brings home germs from other kids she’s around. I was getting sick at least once a month. Missing all that time from school was already going to hurt my GPA but not being able to focus made it so much worse. I went from having a 4.0 GPA in my freshman year to having a 3.0 GPA. If I had been diagnosed earlier, I guarantee my grades wouldn’t have suffered so much. My worst sections of my ACT were English and math because I couldn’t understand what I was reading and I couldn’t focus long enough to figure it out so I would give up choosing something random and move on. If I would’ve been diagnosed sooner, my academics would’ve gone completely different. I truly believe that before entering high school all students should go through a screening just like they need to get a physical. If all students got screenings, you would help the ones who needed it and the ones who didn’t it would be a doctor's appointment just like any other. Then you could truly make sure that all of your students are getting the help that they need whether they need help focusing or they need help communicating at least they would know their families would know and they could truly thrive in a school environment where everyone is just trying to better themselves. And knows how to. At all times I keep a sensory sticker. That’s so purpose is to help ground myself in case I lash out or get very overwhelmed very quickly. So it’s not to say that every student who receives the screening needs to take medication when something as simple as a sticker can help. I have lashed out at my friends for the smallest most insignificant things and caused big arguments for no reason and I didn’t notice that I had been doing that until I missed my pills one day. If I hadn’t been already diagnosed. I can’t imagine how bad this situation would’ve been. I probably could’ve lost a friend. I didn’t think anything of it. I assumed everything would go as normal because I had to lived my life so long without taking them that nothing different would happen if I missed them until my best friend made some very poor planning decisions and I was stuck 30 minutes away from my home for about, three hours because he miss planned multiple aspects of his event. Normally, this would irritate me I would just text one of my friends to go hang out and come back. But this day because I missed my pills instead of doing that I lashed out and was overwhelmed and stressed for no reason I’ve realized after giving myself some space that it was such an insignificant thing and that’s when I realized it was because I missed my medication. This now makes me realize how many times things like this have happened before I was diagnosed. So then this past summer when I got the opportunity to watch The Notebook on Broadway and see how everyone in the audience could feel the pain that all goes through with Alzheimer’s, I realized not all Broadway performances have to be lighthearted and that serious topics like mental illness and scary topics like death can be on that stage with beautiful music and still tell the story effectively. Before that, I wanted to be an actor but at that moment, I realized the importance of being an actor, it’s not about being on stage and performing. It’s about the story that you get to tell and the idea that I could tell a story similar to mine on that stage one day motivated me even more. If I could one day beyond that stage until a story of a 17-year-old girl, just being diagnosed with a full soundtrack and choreography and at the end, feel the emotions of the audience then I would live a happy life.

When I was younger, I watched my uncle go in and out of New York City for auditions, I watched him work with actors like Winona Ryder and Jim Carrey. Ever since then, it was a passion, but it never seemed realistic until my freshman year of high school when I auditioned for the school play. Freshman year I went to see my school’s production of Matilda for extra credit in my English class, nothing more than an assignment. However, seeing the dancers on that stage and hearing my school's Jimmy-nominated performer Alyse Negroni sing, I instantly felt motivated to audition for the next play. So in the spring there, I was auditioning for Alice in Wonderland. When I got cast as one of the nine Cheshire cats I could've never imagined that my life would begin. Never been on stage before I was excited, and could've never imagined where I am today, every friend I have made since then has come from doing a show or being in my theater classes. Naturally the next year I auditioned for every show and enrolled in a theater class. However, I was not cast as anything more than an understudy for our only two big shows of the year. I was in both minor shows my school puts on with multiple roles in each show, but not in anything big. Good thing it did not stop me. It only fueled me for the next year, so I auditioned for junior company at my school and got in. From that moment, I was in every show my school did, including my first musical Mean Girls High School Edition. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I realized my teacher always gave me the obscure character, and whenever I would ask her why her response was always “I guess you’re just my muse.” Whether that was to boost my confidence or the truth, it grew my passion even more. To this point, I went to the Open Jar Institute in New York for a summer intensive for musical theater. I learned so many new skills while I was there and made so many connections with current Broadway actors who were in the shows that we would then later, see at night. It was the most incredible experience of my life, being able to meet Jeremy Jordan and speak to many actors like Emma Pittman further proved to me that I want nothing more than, to be honest on stage and touch people's hearts. Whether it was laughing with Casey Likes as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, or crying with the entire audience when Joy Woods sang My Days in the notebook, knowing that everyone was touched by those actors telling their stories was enough to confirm that this is my path. Even as I’m writing this, my instinctive reaction is to write in the past tense as if I’ve already done it because in my mind there is no question, I will be an incredible actor one day and nothing can stop me. Ever since going to New York this past summer, I have been more motivated to commit to everything I do whether it’s writing a script, directing a scene, or performing. I have committed to everything I have done and there’s no stopping me from here. To look back where I was only a few years ago, it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown. From a girl who was unsure of what her future would hold to a girl knowing the destination and enjoying the amazing journey.

When I was younger, I watched my uncle go in and out of New York City for auditions, I watched him work with actors like Winona Ryder and Jim Carrey. Ever since then, it was a passion, but it never seemed realistic until my freshman year of high school when I auditioned for the school play. Freshman year I went to see my school’s production of Matilda for extra credit in my English class, nothing more than an assignment. However, seeing the dancers on that stage and hearing my school's Jimmy-nominated performer Alyse Negroni sing, I instantly felt motivated to audition for the next play. So in the spring there, I was auditioning for Alice in Wonderland. When I got cast as one of the nine Cheshire cats I could've never imagined that my life would begin. Never been on stage before I was excited, and could've never imagined where I am today, every friend I have made since then has come from doing a show or being in my theater classes. Naturally the next year I auditioned for every show and enrolled in a theater class. However, I was not cast as anything more than an understudy for our only two big shows of the year. I was in both minor shows my school puts on with multiple roles in each show, but not in anything big. Good thing it did not stop me. It only fueled me for the next year, so I auditioned for junior company at my school and got in. From that moment, I was in every show my school did, including my first musical Mean Girls High School Edition. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I realized my teacher always gave me the obscure character, and whenever I would ask her why her response was always “I guess you’re just my muse.” Whether that was to boost my confidence or the truth, it grew my passion even more. To this point, I went to the Open Jar Institute in New York for a summer intensive for musical theater. I learned so many new skills while I was there and made so many connections with current Broadway actors who were in the shows that we would then later, see at night. It was the most incredible experience of my life, being able to meet Jeremy Jordan and speak to many actors like Emma Pittman further proved to me that I want nothing more than, to be honest on stage and touch people's hearts. Whether it was laughing with Casey Likes as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, or crying with the entire audience when Joy Woods sang My Days in the notebook, knowing that everyone was touched by those actors telling their stories was enough to confirm that this is my path. Even as I’m writing this, my instinctive reaction is to write in the past tense as if I’ve already done it because in my mind there is no question, I will be an incredible actor one day and nothing can stop me. Ever since going to New York this past summer, I have been more motivated to commit to everything I do whether it’s writing a script, directing a scene, or performing. I have committed to everything I have done and there’s no stopping me from here. To look back where I was only a few years ago, it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown. From a girl who was unsure of what her future would hold to a girl knowing the destination and enjoying the amazing journey.

Ever since I was around the age of 12 I have been asking my parents questions like what would it be like if I only lived with mommy or I only lived with Daddy at the time my parents thought were silly now at the age of 17 my parents have been separated for about two years and only now going through their divorce. My dad hasn’t worked since I was around one year old because of an injury at work that caused him to be disabled, which made it very hard for my mother Being the source of income for me and my dad and when I turned 12 also being a source of income for my little sister. Doing it alone was hard for her and she was always working or stressed out with work. Because of my dad’s injury, we not only funding ourselves but also his two surgeries and many doctor visits there have been numerous times throughout my life when money had been tight to the point where just getting in the car to go out of the house was too expensive because of gas. Even currently my mom has just lost her job and we are relying on my grandparents for income I am currently the only one with a job and I don’t start for another week. On top of not having a lot of money, both me and my mother for a very long time when undiagnosed with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar. which now, in addition to being unemployed, neither of us has been able to see our therapist and soon we have to pay for our medication out of pocket because we don’t have insurance either. As I previously mentioned my parents are currently going through divorce. It’s not a pretty one because my dad lived a very hard life as a child and it has made him also embody a gritty mindset, one that not only was passed down to me but affected my entire household. My trauma and hardships don’t come from what happens outside of my house, outside is my Safe Haven but inside that’s our life sent my obstacles. my mindset is my brain's way of keeping me safe, safe from manipulation and fear. My mindset was built in this home, but has kept me safe from the rest of the world. My home is never been the safest place for me mentally. My mom is my best friend and I love my sister to death, But my dad is Not delicate enough, and the world has made him too hard to have a happy and healthy family. When I Say that his gritty mindset was passed down to me I mean through what I have had to endure day after day, week after week, and year after year, none of it has been easy, but I strive every day to soften my mindset and be a soft version of myself. A version of myself that is more trusting and open not one who is closed off and has no hope in the world. My gritty mindset has started in my home, but I hope going to college will be a new start for me and I can also leave it at home.

When I was younger, I watched my uncle go in and out of New York City for auditions, I watched him work with actors like Winona Ryder and Jim Carrey. Ever since then, it was a passion, but it never seemed realistic until my freshman year of high school when I auditioned for the school play. Freshman year I went to see my school’s production of Matilda for extra credit in my English class, nothing more than an assignment. However, seeing the dancers on that stage and hearing my school's Jimmy-nominated performer Alyse Negroni sing, I instantly felt motivated to audition for the next play. So in the spring there, I was auditioning for Alice in Wonderland. When I got cast as one of the nine Cheshire cats I could've never imagined that my life would begin. Never been on stage before I was excited, and could've never imagined where I am today, every friend I have made since then has come from doing a show or being in my theater classes. Naturally the next year I auditioned for every show and enrolled in a theater class. However, I was not cast as anything more than an understudy for our only two big shows of the year. I was in both minor shows my school puts on with multiple roles in each show, but not in anything big. Good thing it did not stop me. It only fueled me for the next year, so I auditioned for junior company at my school and got in. From that moment, I was in every show my school did, including my first musical Mean Girls High School Edition. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I realized my teacher always gave me the obscure character, and whenever I would ask her why her response was always “I guess you’re just my muse.” Whether that was to boost my confidence or the truth, it grew my passion even more. I proceeded to go to the Open Jar Institute, summer intensive and it was the most incredible experience of my life, being able to meet Jeremy Jordan and speak to many actors like Emma Pittman further proved to me that I want nothing more than, to be honest on stage and touch people's hearts. Whether it was laughing with Casey Likes as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, or crying with the entire audience when Joy Woods sang My Days in the Notebook, knowing that everyone was touched by those actors telling their stories was enough to confirm that this is my path. Ever since going to New York, I have been more motivated to commit to everything I do whether it’s writing a script, directing a scene, or performing. I have committed to everything I have done and there’s no stopping me from here. I would love nothing more than to be able to share other people's stories about things that they have gone through and even maybe one day things that I have gone through in the world. To look back where I was only a few years ago, it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown. From a girl who was unsure of what her future would hold to a girl knowing the destination and enjoying the journey.

When I was younger, I watched my uncle go in and out of New York City for auditions, I watched him work with actors like Winona Ryder and Jim Carrey. Ever since then, it was a passion, but it never seemed realistic until my freshman year of high school when I auditioned for the school play. Freshman year I went to see my school’s production of Matilda for extra credit in my English class, nothing more than an assignment. However, seeing the dancers on that stage and hearing my school's Jimmy-nominated performer Alyse Negroni sing, I instantly felt motivated to audition for the next play. So in the spring there, I was auditioning for Alice in Wonderland. When I got cast as one of the nine Cheshire cats I could've never imagined that my life would begin. Never been on stage before I was excited, and could've never imagined where I am today, every friend I have made since then has come from doing a show or being in my theater classes. Naturally the next year I auditioned for every show and enrolled in a theater class. However, I was not cast as anything more than an understudy for our only two big shows of the year. I was in both minor shows my school puts on with multiple roles in each show, but not in anything big. Good thing it did not stop me. It only fueled me for the next year, so I auditioned for junior company at my school and got in. From that moment, I was in every show my school did, including my first musical Mean Girls High School Edition. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I realized my teacher always gave me the obscure character, and whenever I would ask her why her response was always “I guess you’re just my muse.” Whether that was to boost my confidence or the truth, it grew my passion even more. To this point, I went to the Open Jar Institute in New York for a summer intensive for musical theater. I learned so many new skills while I was there and made so many connections with current Broadway actors who were in the shows that we would then later, see at night. It was the most incredible experience of my life, being able to meet Jeremy Jordan and speak to many actors like Emma Pittman further proved to me that I want nothing more than, to be honest on stage and touch people's hearts. Whether it was laughing with Casey Likes as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, or crying with the entire audience when Joy Woods sang My Days in the notebook, knowing that everyone was touched by those actors telling their stories was enough to confirm that this is my path. Even as I’m writing this, my instinctive reaction is to write in the past tense as if I’ve already done it because in my mind there is no question, I will be an incredible actor one day and nothing can stop me. Ever since going to New York this past summer, I have been more motivated to commit to everything I do whether it’s writing a script, directing a scene, or performing. I have committed to everything I have done and there’s no stopping me from here. To look back where I was only a few years ago, it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown. From a girl who was unsure of what her future would hold to a girl knowing the destination and enjoying the amazing journey.

When I was younger, I watched my uncle go in and out of New York City for auditions, I watched him work with actors like Winona Ryder and Jim Carrey. Ever since then, it was a passion, but it never seemed realistic until my freshman year of high school when I auditioned for the school play. Freshman year I went to see my school’s production of Matilda for extra credit in my English class, nothing more than an assignment. However, seeing the dancers on that stage and hearing my school's Jimmy-nominated performer Alyse Negroni sing, I instantly felt motivated to audition for the next play. So in the spring there, I was auditioning for Alice in Wonderland. When I got cast as one of the nine Cheshire cats I could've never imagined that my life would begin. Never been on stage before I was excited, and could've never imagined where I am today, every friend I have made since then has come from doing a show or being in my theater classes. Naturally the next year I auditioned for every show and enrolled in a theater class. However, I was not cast as anything more than an understudy for our only two big shows of the year. I was in both minor shows my school puts on with multiple roles in each show, but not in anything big. Good thing it did not stop me. It only fueled me for the next year, so I auditioned for junior company at my school and got in. From that moment, I was in every show my school did, including my first musical Mean Girls High School Edition. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I realized my teacher always gave me the obscure character, and whenever I would ask her why her response was always “I guess you’re just my muse.” Whether that was to boost my confidence or the truth, it grew my passion even more. To this point, I went to the Open Jar Institute in New York for a summer intensive for musical theater. I learned so many new skills while I was there and made so many connections with current Broadway actors who were in the shows that we would then later, see at night. It was the most incredible experience of my life, being able to meet Jeremy Jordan and speak to many actors like Emma Pittman further proved to me that I want nothing more than, to be honest on stage and touch people's hearts. Whether it was laughing with Casey Likes as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, or crying with the entire audience when Joy Woods sang My Days in the notebook, knowing that everyone was touched by those actors telling their stories was enough to confirm that this is my path. Even as I’m writing this, my instinctive reaction is to write in the past tense as if I’ve already done it because in my mind there is no question, I will be an incredible actor one day and nothing can stop me. Ever since going to New York this past summer, I have been more motivated to commit to everything I do whether it’s writing a script, directing a scene, or performing. I have committed to everything I have done and there’s no stopping me from here. To look back where I was only a few years ago, it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown. From a girl who was unsure of what her future would hold to a girl knowing the destination and enjoying the amazing journey.