College Admissions Essay: A Career In Academic Arts

I grew up in a strict household met with consequences when the dishes weren’t done, a book log tracking my reading and learnings (3 grades higher than my age), and the constant pressure to work harder. I have a scholarly track record, a propensity for voicing my opinion backed by logic, and a love for learning about history and its implications. Given my love for the academic arts, it was to my dismay that I acquired a passion for acting, an art that has pushed me outside of my comfort zone regularly.

When I was 10 I read a story about an actor and the joy he found in experiencing life through the character’s he played, in a way that gave him appreciation for himself and the world around him. Given my love for history and people, that was when I made a personal goal to begin acting. From high school plays to prime time television, I have continued to push myself outside of my comfort zone and experience life from a different lens, not only in the role itself, but through the interactions the role has afforded me with my surroundings.

This hobby is thrilling, nerve-racking and rewarding. I gravitate towards non-fiction, true stories. Some find it bizarre that I enjoy sobbing in front of twenty strangers over the death of someone I have never met, but my ability to micro-analyze a character and become him is what fuels my creativity.
The business is highly saturated, and casting directors & agents have strong opinions. It completely differs from academia, whereas in a subject like math, you are either right or wrong. Even though “being passed on” can lead to feelings of rejection, I’ve learned to maximize my emotional gains by developing an appreciation for the characters I play, whether going through hardships or successes. This hobby has given me perspective early on in life, something that matured me earlier than others, and made me realize the potential impact I can have in this