What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it?
I comprise in one package what many people do not have as a whole. Not many people go the extra mile and make things work no matter how hard it is like I do. I have a youthful face with a wide range of acting abilities. I am a Mexican American actress and there are not many of us out there who are known. I am focused, kind, giving, determined, and a responsible, hard worker. I believe in myself and my gifts. I believe in my gifts and I would invest everything I have in them.
What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this?
I want Latinos to be represented well and to be more prominent in the industry. Many amazing Latinas like Gina Rodriguez and America Ferrera are creating change for better representation and equality in the film/tv industry and I want to be a part of that change. I want to inspire others. If I get to use my talents to inspire others to create a change, then I will be happy. I want to be able to donate money to any cause or charity I believe in like, Families Belong Together. I realized this year how incredibly important it is to fight for what I believe in and to fight for others and when I start to earn money I will do exactly that.
How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success?
When I am noted as an inspiration to others. Living comfortably from doing what I love to do as a job. Being able to balance work and family. When I can donate large sums of money to charities and causes and not hurt my wallet from it, then I will feel successful. I face the challenge that thousands of people want to do the same thing I want to do and there are not many open spots. Money can be a challenge when I need it to get somewhere that can bring me a step forward to a possible success. I face the challenge of wanting to have a family and be able to work in this industry at the same time. I face the challenge of hearing no’s day after day and still managing to stay confident and hopeful for that one yes to help me create my success.
What is career vision and a mission?
A career vision is what I inspire to pursue and have as my job title. What I see myself doing for a huge part of my life. A mission is what I do to get and achieve my career vision. My career vision is to be a professional actress constantly going from project to project. I want to have worked hard and long to be able to take a nice break or vacation because there is a job waiting for me when I am ready to go back to work. I will strive to work hard to save money. I will strive to go to as many auditions as I can. I will keep going no matter how many times I am turned away. I will keep learning and practicing to perfect my craft.
Can you innovate and create value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences?
YES. If it is something I have spent time on, I truly believe in and I am passionate about, then how could I not be successful in sharing that value with others. When it has to do with something I have created and poured my heart and soul into it, then communicating it to an audience would be a breeze because my passion would just burst out.
Do you have a positive attitude?
Yes! A huge thing for me is to be able to find the good and to find the light in everything. I love being positive and happy and I love sharing that with the people I love most. Having a positive attitude is important in my book when it comes to searching for success. It’s easy to fall into a negative mindset, but know there is always an option to put a positive spin to it.
Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals?
I have already set certain goals. After graduation, I want to have saved up enough money to travel to Atlanta or NYC at least 3 times no less than a year out for a week of auditions each time. In no more than two years, I want to have an agent. I want to have worked or continue to work in my first professional job in the next 3 years. I think my road map to success is to constantly audition, try to go from contract to contract, and not be unemployed for too long in between. I want to have built strong and reliable connections that I can trust to go to for work or for guidance. I also want to continue to learn and grow in my abilities as an actress. I want to continuously be evolving.
Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision?
Yes, I do. I have the passion, the talent, the personality and the drive to actualize my visions for what I want in the future. I understand that there is always room for growth. To continue to practice. I respect others. I am professional, and I am strong. I am kind.
What are your priorities? Can you set priorities?
My priority as of right now is to work and save money. Without money, I cannot travel to auditions. I would be able to create opportunities for myself. I will prioritize in taking dance classes and continue to warm-up and work on my voice. My priority is to audition and perform anywhere I can and land the job.
What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create?
I want to continue to workshop new works. I want to experience the life of an amusement theme park performer. I want the opportunity and go and sing for a concert out of state. I want the opportunity of traveling to another state to be in a professional show or tv show. I want to have the opportunity to do theatre and be able to represent my culture and ethnicity well. I want the kind of opportunities that help me learn more about myself and challenge myself. I create opportunities for myself by going to auditions. Going to an audition opens a door for possibilities and a possible new opportunity. I make sure to meet and bond with new people that can maybe send me an opportunity my way in the future.
How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take?
The profession I want is full of uncertainty. Will I get the job, how long will I have this job, will I find a new job after this first job is finished? It is risky, and I am okay with that. It always sounds crazy, but this uncertain profession is what I want, and I will do what it takes to have it. Audition after audition after audition I will be there.
When facing challenges, do you persevere, or do you walk away?
I go, and I persevere. There have been times where I have questioned whether or not to walk away, but in the end, I persevere. Challenges are not meant to be easy, but when they are conquered, there is nothing more rewarding.
What experience have you learned the most from?
How important networking can be in this field. Networking is a beautiful thing. I always knew it was important, but I never went through it personally and I went through it this past summer. I landed a lead role in a show because the director has worked with me before, so he already knew what I can do. He already knew that I was special, unique. Because of this show I met and bonded with so many wonderful people in the cast and crew. The kind of people that I would help out if I ever made it big time and I know they would do the same if our roles were reversed. In the community, people are beginning to know my name now. People have also reached out to me because they want to work with me and I would love to do so. It is so exciting.
What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently taking action?
I take classes to work on my craft. To perfect it. To expand it. I make sure to meet new people. I work twice as hard at what I do. I practice, practice, practice, and I try, try, try. I am taking action by going to NYC after graduation to do a showcase in front of agents for possible job opportunities. I am taking acting by working to save the money I need not only for my bills, but for traveling for auditions as well.
How well do you put things in context? Are you able to easily respond to changes in your environment? What’s your best example?
I believe I put things into context and can easily respond to the changes in my environment well. I deal with situations like this in theatre all the time. In class I will learn about different techniques in acting. I would work on it in class and perfect it to the best of my ability. When I’m in a show I take what I have learned in class and apply them to the roles I play on stage.
What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in the past year or three?
The plan is to continue to practice and learn as much as I can, by taking dance classes, continuing my voice lessons, and reading. To meet and create bonds with new people constantly. To continue to have a positive and energized mindset. I have grown in confidence in myself this past year. I feel I have met the right people this past year that have helped and supported me to work even harder and to trust that this what I am meant to do. I got to work on many new things and it was a blessing because I got to practice the skills I already have and expand them, but I also learned new ones I did not realize I had before. My ability as an actress was always being tested and will continue to be.
How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help?
I will always offer help. I like helping others. It still takes me a bit to ask for help, because I do not want to feel needy. Asking for help can also make me feel weak or naïve, but I do know that it is important to ask for help when I need it. It is a process of learning and I must accept it and love it. Whenever I do ask for help, I always offer something in return for their generosity and help.
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 intend to continue to work hard, learn, and be kind. I will offer help and I will share my own experiences and feelings with others. I will evolve with any changing environments. I will spread positivity whenever and wherever I can. I will use my talents to help raise awareness to causes and organizations I believe in, such as Families Belong Together and United We Dream. With that, I hope to lead successful benefit concerts that help benefit those organizations and many more.
