Growing up, I was surrounded by art, music, theatre, literature, and cinema connoisseurs. My father’s parents were artists and their art filled our home. They were also best friends with Tennesse Williams, so naturally, my dad and mom fed me tons of classic plays to read and took me to see plays every chance we got. My mom’s mother is an interior designer so I was born with a preference for beautiful things. My two older brothers were born with a love for cinema so at all times and on every television in the house, there were always classics like Casablanca, Pulp Fiction, and The Departed playing. I watched films that were far too advanced, looked at art that was not meant for young eyes, and saw plays that would make other 7-year-olds uncomfortable. I was conditioned though, to see it more as art and something beautiful to learn from rather than inappropriate content. My mind and heart yearned for new, exciting art to observe and watch and listen to. I did theatre at every youth theatre company I could get my hands on. And even when it wasn’t considered “cool” in my friend group to do theatre, I still chose to take acting as an elective in middle school because that was my thing. 

 Going to high school at Kinkaid, I was extremely fortunate to be a part of such a strong theatre community. Although the theatre kids weren’t my main friend group, I loved them equally and wouldn’t change a thing about my high school experience and decision to continue theatre although we were teased for having the courage to put on a wig and get on stage in front of the entire school. I also soon discovered that I loved leading things and helping make change in people's lives. I was on the Governing Council every year at my high school and was the leader of my high school mentoring program. Doing theatre really proved to me who my real friends were. Those who judged and scoffed at my dream and my passion weren’t people who I needed in my life and I know that now. The friends who stuck around and proudly showed up to my performances were people I would keep in my life forever. There was never a moment when I questioned what I wanted to study in college. In fact, I was set on skipping college and moving to Los Angeles. It was okay-ed by my parents but I decided that the most talented actors on stage or behind the camera are those who attain the most life experience. I wanted to meet an array of different people and study under experienced professors and live the college life. 

Of course, when I tell people my major I might get a strange look or a chuckle, but that never gets me down. Being an aspiring actress, I get lots of judgment and doubt from others and it only fuels my hunger for success even more. I feel sorry for those who don't have the courage to pursue what they love, it's truly heartbreaking. So here I am at the University of Texas, striving to attain my dream, and I couldn't be happier. 

Me, basking in the glory of cinema and entertainment.

   I think that making connections with people is one of the main reasons why we were put on this earth. I have learned an abundance of my knowledge from meeting different people and talking to them about their lives. When you collaborate and form a relationship with another person, you are looking through a window into their personality. The best way to meet and make connections with people is by working with them-on anything creative. I adore working with other people. I always fall in love with my casts and crew and classmates and grow extremely close with them. Life would be a waste if you left earth with no new outlooks on life that you were gifted from those around you.  

    You have two options when you are put in a group setting to collaborate. You could go into the process with a bad attitude, inattentive ears, a limp mouth, and a closed heart. Or, you could go into the process with welcoming hands, eyes wide open, and a vulnerable heart. I strongly believe that if you set the precedent of being kind, interested, and open, then everyone else in your group will follow. I always try and bring a positive attitude to any and all work I do. Having fun is a huge part of being productive and will make your product worlds better! Open your heart to others and they just might give you the key to theirs. Don't hesitate to show interest in other's lives, they will appreciate that more than you know. If you act a certain way, bets are that others will catch on and act the same. Choose an attitude wisely..

   This class only solidified my strong feelings towards the importance of collaborating. Clearly, collaborating is not only fun, but it also produces amazing results no matter what you are trying to create. I have loved collaborating with our class and I have learned so much. Recently, I was in a local short film called Posers. Below, you will see more information. 

A genetic influence in my life, is my fabulous grandmother, Jan Showers. Jan and I have always had such a special connection and I have always looked up to her in so many ways. The first being how she carries herself. Jannie, is what I call her, walks into a room and immediately gets the attention of everyone there. This isn’t because of her beauty or the way she smells or dresses. Side note: she is gorgeous, even at 80, smells amazing all the time, and wears the most classic and timeless clothes I’ve ever seen! No, she walks into a room and people want to talk to her because of the way she carries herself. She carries herself with confidence, grace, and kindness. How does one carry themselves with kindness you may ask? Well, if a person is kind at heart, which she is, and holds an open mind to meeting and getting to know anyone, no matter who they are or what they do, people will naturally radiate towards you. People can smell confidence, grace, and kindness on a person like we smell detergent on freshly washed clothes. Jannie is never rude to anyone, but she does not put up with other people’s bullshit and that is why people respect and love to be around her so much. She has taught me so much about how to present myself to the world. 1) Be yourself and be genuine--people can detect a faker from miles away. 2) Be confident--Confidence attracts people and never did any wrong. 3) Stay humbles and graceful-- Never put yourself on a higher level than anyone around you. Everyone is equal and should be treated the exact same way. Jannie has been one of my biggest supporters during my acting career. I love her with all my heart and hope to someday be half the woman she is.
I have watched hundreds of thousands of movies and tv shows and fangirled over countless actresses, but there is one actress that I place at the top of my list: Margot Robbie. I admire so many women in film but the one that I admire and aspire to be most like is Margot Robbie. Like Jan, people obsess over Margot not just because of how beautiful she is but also because of how she carries herself. She always looks as though she radiates warmth and positive energy. The way she carries herself translates into her work behind the camera as well. Margot Robbie is wildly talented and invested in her craft. I have seen every single one of her films that she is both in and has produced. She is the definition of a badass. Everyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with Margot. She beams with joy, but she isn't obnoxious or self-centered. She keeps her private life private but doesn’t hesitate to relate to the rest of the world. I just love her and truly believe she has impacted how I act both on and off stage.  

 At the beginning of high school, I felt as if I was always getting roles for this type of character who is ditsy, blonde, boy-obsessed, preppy, cheery, sexual; the list of stereotypes could go on and on. However, once my directors started to see that I could play much more than your average blonde flirt, I began to play an array of roles. Not to say that I don’t love playing into that role of a high school cheerleader with a football boyfriend, yes it’s fun. It’s something I can do pretty easily because of my past roles, but my training goes far beyond that. Like me, Margot has spoken about how she has been “type-cast” before and played roles like Naomi in The Wolf of Wall Street. She also played Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, another pretty “blonde role.” Not to belittle these characters because they are great and have a lot of depth, but they are all pretty similar in a sense. At the beginning of her career, Robbie was playing roles she knew she could play. Suddenly, she was cast in iTonya, for which she was nominated for best actress. Like me and my past directors, she proved the industry wrong and played something out of her normal roles, and killed it. Similar to me, Margot still enjoys playing into that sort of “ditsy” role as she will be starring in a new Barbie movie. Margot Robbie also just produced an amazing film called Promising Young Woman, one of the best films I've ever seen. I highly recommend it. Margot Robbie influenced me so much that I chose to write my college essay about labels based on appearance and how I had been “type-cast” most of my life. My high school director read my college essay and offered me my favorite role I have ever played. Read more about the beauty pageant queen who rewrites the constitution below! 

This is why I value entertainment. Entertainment holds the power to change somebodies entire perspective on the world, ultimately holding the power to change the entire world. I know it may seem dramatic, but movies and plays and dance shows and musicals all have the amazing ability to teach something to their audience. 

I have always gotten a sense of fulfillment from pleasing people. So, one of the reasons why I act is solely for the purpose of entertaining people. This may seem obvious, but many actors and performers do their job for different purposes. I love brightening people's days and sometimes all it takes is a little show or dance or scene! I just simply love making people smile and laugh and dance and clap!

If you are able to entertain, you can do almost anything. Being an entertainer allows you to constantly be prepared for any situation with any type of person. Entertaining comes in handy for job interviews, speaking in your class, and persuading people.

The main reason that I act is to tell the story of others. I want to teach the world about things and people that they wouldn't normally ever learn about. I want people to gain empathy for people they know nothing about. For example, I love telling stories about women who never got a voice. My job is to finally give them a voice and make them be heard. I want people to cry and get angry for these women who nobody believed or listened to.  

Through this class, I have maintained my love for entertainment and I've seen how so many other people do as well, whether it's conscious or not. I also have loved entertaining our classmates when we do moment work or playwrighting. Whenever I am given a lot of freedom with a project, I always try and create the most entertaining idea that will grab my classmates’s attention and teach them something and make them feel something. Read about it below.