"I chose to go to MSU because of its incredible theater program. From plays to musicals to devised (scriptless) work, the possibilities seemed endless. There's also such racial and cultural diversity at MSU, which was refreshing in comparison to my predominantly white high school.

 

Feeling represented and included at school was vital for me, and I thought that MSU would give me that sense of belonging as a Hispanic-serving institution with a majority BIPOC population. When I went on a campus tour in 2022, I could really see myself there—I loved the layout of the school, and how it had a very "classic" campus feel to it. It was also a giant plus that a ton of my family members were in NJ, and if there were any emergency situations, I could call one of them to help me. 

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Fast forward: I'm really glad I left MSU! Although I met some of my closest friends there and got an incredible 1.5 years of acting training, the overall environment wasn't for me. As an out-of-state student, it was really hard to build friendships with others, since most people were from NJ or surrounding states, and came to college with their high school friend group. I didn't have a car and the campus train didn't run on weekends, which made it almost impossible for me to go places during my downtime.

 

So, I spent most of my free time on campus, and felt very trapped. Because of all these factors, my mental health declined. I felt isolated, out of place, and depressed. Leaving was my step towards happiness, and I don't regret taking that step at all. 

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Since getting home and working on re-applying to colleges, I've had amazing opportunities fall into my lap. I auditioned for Groundhog Day: The Musical at a local theater in January to get myself back into the PDX (Portland) theater scene. I didn't put too much pressure on myself, and just viewed it as a learning opportunity. Unexpectedly, I ended up booking the job and getting a great role! I also joined Latinx Choral Project, a group for Latino singers to build community and make music in a space where people share cultural identity. For decades, the choral industry has been overwhelmingly white, and only now are BIPOC singers starting to get a bit more recognition in that space.

 

The LCP is such a stepping stone in that regard, and is bringing such richness, diversity, and unique culture to the PDX choral sphere. If I had gone back to MSU, I wouldn't have been able to sing with this amazing group. 

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Yes, I do plan on returning to college this fall! I've been working on my prescreen materials. These are the videos that actors submit when they apply for a college-level BFA program, consisting of songs, monologues, answers to written prompts, and dance numbers. Then, I plan to focus my energy on the essay portion of the college applications, and get all the advice I can. 

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This month, I'm attending Unifieds, a national audition for BFA programs, in NYC, so I can do in-person auditions for Marymount Manhattan, Manhattan School of Music, and other universities. I aim to be committed to a BFA musical theater or acting program by the fall. 

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My advice to high school students? TAKE YOUR TIME! There's no rush to decide on college right now. Take a gap year if that suits you; really figure out what you want. Just because others around you are committing to Ivy Leagues or other high-caliber schools doesn't mean that you need to be putting all this pressure on yourself. Taking your time will pay off, truly. 

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Also, it's okay to take a "non-traditional" path and/or shift gears in terms of education. If you have a gut feeling that someplace isn't for you, trust that.

 

Don't feel pressured to keep doing what you're doing if it doesn't feel right. If you’re already in college, use this time to really figure out what you want out of life and your school experience. If you're finding that purpose at your current school, keep seeking that! But, if you're not feeling that at your school, look into other things! This doesn't have to mean another school. It could be other friends, another job, another major! Whatever will make you feel fulfilled and be the best version of yourself.

 

You deserve to be happy, no matter what. Never forget that! "