Hi, I'm Brisaela Arredondo, and I am a 19 year old aspiring actress. From the time I could walk, I would pose in outfits and makeup because I liked being the center of attention. Growing up, I didn't know acting was something I could actually do, it never crossed my mind. I thought, well, I should become a fashion designer... but there was something always off with that dream. It wasn't until I joined Drama as a 13 year old in 8th grade, and then advanced to high school theatre, where I stood in front of a crowd of thousands accepting my 3rd place DTASC festival award with my scene for Abigail in, The Crucible. I knew then -- that was my calling. I was new to the acting world. It was an everyday learning process, but with each moment, and every bruise, I grew more and more passionate. I became so inspired with the aesthetics of getting to jump into a new character and portray their mannerisms and personality traits. I am so in love with that! How invigorating it is to step into a new mindset for a while, and then step right out. It gives me tingles. Acting is a sense of emotional relief for me.
I bring this up because just like myself, there are about a million other individuals with the same passion, and then a million others with a passion to get their PhD in some field. We're all different - every single one of us. We were all crafted individually for a specific purpose. If we all did the same thing, and stuck to the mold - how bland and unimaginative our world would be. My reason being, it's okay if some people don't go straight to college after high school; if they have an enriching plan for themselves that involves stimuli of the mind, body, and spirit - leave them be. At the time, they know what they're doing - they are following their heart and chasing after what they want most. A person doesn't know what they're capable of until they give it a shot. And if for some reason, they may fail, well, what a grand lesson. Getting an education is amazing, don't get me wrong. Never give up an opportunity to learn. If you're going to spend 10 years getting your degree in a specific subject - good for you. Really... all the applauds to you. What flusters me is when a person decides not to take that path, they become ridiculed, get fingers of shame pointed at them, and are told they will struggle in life. Persons like myself, are just looked down on 99.5% of the time. I know this because I have family members who view my plans as a joke. While, my aunt's daughters are getting degrees in amazing fields, I am over here working a retail job, moving out on my own to LA to pursue acting... while that makes me look below them - I really am not. My cousins and myself are just completely different. We're on different paths, and I wish observers could see that. I am still following my dreams, I am still working my butt off to get there, so why am I the loser? I know in my heart I was made for nothing else, but this. I've always known there something abnormal awaiting me in my future. I was not meant for a normal life. Normal makes me so uncomfortable and makes me feel entirely unsettled. I am choosing my happiness over society's belief system of success. It's not a matter of 'if' for me, it's a matter of WHEN.
