Have a little history

After many years of calling myself a "film student," those days have suddenly come to a close. 

Let me give you a bit of a background story. 

When I was 14, I decided that I wanted to make movies. A big thank you to Wes Craven, for it was Scream that made this whole decision. Obviously, at the age of 14, you cannot dive into film school. For me, it wasn't until I was 20 that I could finally get there. Even though I feel like I completely wasted my time for two years at a Community College, it turned out to be extra time that I got to spend with my mom. 

So after the long awaited time, I decided to try this whole Film School thing… with stipulations. I was and have always been a little bit of an introvert. I wasn't exactly ready to leave the nest all the way to California, or New York. I love those places, especially New York but I just wasn't ready for that much of an adventure. After endless searches, my mom and I narrowed it down to two different places. Academy of Art University, and Brooks Institute. One being online, the other on campus, and both having equally awesome programs. Like I said before, I wasn't ready to live that far away from home, and after a conversation with the admissions lady from Brooks, I knew it wasn't the right fit. (she told me I was the one standing in my own way, and if I was going to amount to anything, I NEEDED to go to her school.)

This lead me straight to Academy of Art University. The professors were professionals in their field, which meant if I were to take a directing class, the professor would be a director. I couldn't think of anything better. Minus the now 100,000 plus I owe in Student Loans.

I did have a few hiccups during my attendance. I had the death of my grandma, who lived in North Dakota, which meant traveling to a small town with little to no Internet access. One professor was a dream, the other was a complete dick. 
Oh, yeah. The school would only let me take two classes at a time because of my work schedule. Four year program turned into seven….
I also had the death of my mother. Probably the hardest thing I've had to deal with, ever. Period. My mother was always a constant in my life, so when she was gone, I went a little crazy. I was told by my advisor to take time off, but that didn't happen. I think i skipped about two weeks of school before I decided to get back to it. I know she would have hated if I gave up on school, seeing as she was in school basically up until she died. Stinkin' multiple masters degrees. Jeez mom, over achieve much?
And most recent, the break up with my very first boyfriend. His choice, not mine. 

After all of this, I found out that I past my financial aid limit, and was no longer allowed assistance to take classes. At this point, I was so close to having my degree it was ridiculous. Someone just told me that even with being that close, there was nothing I could do, unless I looked for more private funding. Well, here's the thing, I did that. I took out parent plus loans for most of my college career. Now, my dad is retired and cannot cosign. I sucked it up and asked my big brother, which I hated. I love my brother and I know he would do anything for me, but I hate having to ask for things. Scariest phone conversation of my life, and he said he would do whatever he could. He filled out all the paperwork, and we were still denied. No idea why, they don't tell you unless you request it. 

So, school was starting and I had no money to take classes. Awesome. My life was hardcore sucking at this point, and I was grasping at straws to make something work. On a whim, I asked my advisor, if there was any way that I could skip some classes and get my degree. Even an AA at this point would be better than nothing. I will always adore her, she went out of her way to see what she could find out, and was calling me, and emailing on a weekly basis. Out of nowhere, my advisor was reassigned. Awesome. Another set back. My new advisor basically had no information from my old one, so it was starting all over. 

Months went by, I knew nothing. I couldn't do anything either. I was helpless. I was extremely depressed and anxious, all the time. Nothing was seeming to go right. Until Monday, the 25th of November. Being annoyed, I emailed my advisor. She got back to me with in a few minutes with these words "I believe he is going to approve everything."

I don't want to be cliche, but I swear I heard a Hallelujah chorus. 

So, fast forward a week, and here I am. Everything is still sinking in, and I cannot believe that I will actually be a college graduate in the Spring. 

After having coffee with a friend, she made me realize I need to get my ass in gear. I should have a website/blog to showcase my stuff, and start to get my name out there. So that's what this is. I'll be posting my work, along with my adventures of being a normal human, and no longer a student. 

Film Student has been my identifier for so long, that it is almost sad to see it go. 

I am now, and will always be a Screenwriter.