Why attending college is important to me. by Zeleah

Why attending college is important to me. by Zeleah - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

I will be attending New York University's Tisch School of the arts.

It is a creator's dream to have the opportunity to get perspectives from every type of person, and especially to get perspectives that they wouldn't usually be privy to. I am from a small town in Georgia called Snellville. Being an artist in a small town makes me feel alone; alone in the fact that I know I’m different and I know my goals are always considered more unrealistic than my peers. I love my town, but I know I do not belong here. Although I may be worshipped for my talent in this town, I know I need to exceed in my craft. The danger of a big fish in a small pond is complacency, and that complacency can mitigate growth.
New York is the city of dreams. Ironically, I am the only one in a family of six that wasn’t born there. It feels natural and daresay fateful that my calling would beckon me back to my roots. My better instincts have led me to believe that immersion in a different and more challenging environment is a necessary step in perfecting my craft and making a career out of my passions. I have never been lukewarm about how central to my life art and performance is. I have more experience than anyone I know. Since eleven I dedicated my summers, winters, and springs to voice lessons, acting lessons, dance classes, theatre, and agency showcases in the most competitive environments that Greater Atlanta has to offer. I know what it feels like to perform for casting agents year in and year out, stifling my fears to show my skill in the hopes of a callback.
Tisch is not only at the epicenter of the most creative city in the world but is also the premier institution in producing top tier talent. Oddly enough, I am looking forward to the harsh critique of my craft and the vetting of my ability. I need the feeling of not being the best to fuel the fire in me which will usher me to the next echelon of artistic talent. I made a decision a long time ago that my passions will be my life’s work, and frankly there is nowhere else on the planet that is better equipped at nurturing my talents by being trained by the best, and by creating with the best. It is my calling.