Describe your dream job, as well as how your college plans will help you reach this goal. by Jacqueline

Describe your dream job, as well as how your college plans will help you reach this goal. by Jacqueline - February 2019 Scholarship Essay

My aspirations for my future career began several years ago, when I was going through a very difficult period. I was almost 7 years old when I first found out I had cancer. What a scary word...."Cancer". Imagine yourself one day playing with your friends in 1st grade and going on field trips. Then all of the sudden, that is all taken away. Spending most of your time in a hospital, in a car for the 3 hr drive to treatment or being isolated from everyone except your parents and little brother. At this time, all I could do (or even felt like doing) is watch movies.

One year after my cancer diagnosis, I found out it had come back. This time it was in my spine and the only way to treat it was with a bone marrow transplant. I underwent very intense chemo, brain and full body radiation getting my body ready for transplant. During this time, I loved to draw and watch movies. I'd imagine myself as one of the characters. The visual effects amazed me. I enjoyed watching the characters, as they would allow me to forget about where I was and what I was going through. I could be a kid again. After transplant, I was isolated at home for a year. This gave me a chance to really watch and research how some of these movies were made.

My mother has a friend that is a Visual Effects Artist for a big name production company in L.A. He came back home and met with me to answer any questions I had and give helpful tips. At that time, I knew this is what I wanted to do for my career. I won a summer scholarship to an art college and was able to spend a week learning about Visual Effects and Animation. I have been taking college courses online at night while finishing up my senior year of high school. I'll graduate with 21 credit hours towards college. After graduation I'll finish my general courses at a local community college and then transfer to the Digital Animation Visual Effects School. The D.A.V.E. School is located on the back lot of Universal Studios in Florida and when I graduate, I will have a BS in Visual Effects. My plans are working with a production company and making the most amazing special effects you have ever seen.

I am a fighter, determined to do work my hardest to succeed in being the best that I can be. One day, I will see my name in the credits of a motion picture. Watch out world!