If a music entrepreneur’s belief in one’s unique gift, passion for making a difference through music and the willingness to take charge and learn from challenges in order to create success:
What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it?
My gifts lie on and off the stage. I not only act/sing/etc., but I direct, design, and paint sets. I continually invest myself into each of these talents.
What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this?
I hope that one day all schools will be able to have theater programs without fear of losing their budget. I hope to open my own theater one day so students can still have a place to go in case funding is lost at a state level.
How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success?
If I am working in the business I love, that is successful to me. Of course, going into the world with little experience will make that difficult. I’ve done internships and jobs I don’t love to keep me close to the entertainment world, and I’ll keep doing it.
What is career vision and a mission?
A career vision in my mind is what I see when I close my eyes and see myself doing with my life. A mission is the philanthropic element that will go along with my vision.
Can you innovate and create value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences?
Referencing the grant writing project, I believe I could be really god at this. Programming a show season that hasn’t been done before and emphasizing the educational value behind it is extremely important.
Do you have a positive attitude?
When it relates to things I am passionate about? Most of the time.
Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals?
I have set goals for myself, but theater is so difficult to say if they are realistic. My road map is still kind of blank, but I know how to fill it out (ex: auditions, networking.)
Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision?
I know that I can gather information to actualize my vision.
What are your priorities? Can you set priorities?
My priorities are to get connections during my next internship that can propel me into the next professional phase of my life. I think I am a great prioritizer since I have been heavily involved in multiple things since coming to JU.
What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create?
I am always looking for auditions or work in a large entertainment company.
How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take?
Theater is built on uncertainty, so risks and I are good friends at this point in my life.
When facing challenges, do you persevere or do you walk away?
I have to continue persevering, or I may not have the money to cover my rent.
What experience have you learned the most from?
I’ve worked in the Scene Shop at JU since my freshmen year, and I think that has taught me the most about honing skills I already had and rounding me out even more and giving me new skills for the resume.
What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently taking action?
I am always looking for auditions at the local and national level so I can achieve my goals faster.
What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in the past year or three?
I will continue to take voice lessons and classes to keep up the work I’ve done while at JU. By taking extra classes in voice and design, I’ve made myself more marketable than before.
How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help?
I do it all the time. Its hard doing this career alone, so having a support system is a must. I also offer help to anyone who needs it, especially younger people who haven’t done/ experienced as much as I have.
How are you inspiring others to join and/or support your mission in order to create a financially sustainable enterprise that allows you to live your gift and contribute something valuable to society? – If you aren’t currently, how do you intend to? I don’t think at this point in my life I can rally people behind a cause I haven’t even rallied behind myself. I think one day when I have more experience in the “real world” this will be possible. I hope that one day I can impact a community with the art I create either as an actor onstage or as the owner of my own theater.
