Dear Kate,
Hey there! It’s Me — well, older, wiser, starting to develop tiny little eye wrinkles, 26-year-old YOU, to be precise.
I know you’re about to graduate from the safe little world of Hofstra and enter into the big unknown of New York City, so you’re pretty worried about a lot of things right now. So I’d like to help you out here with a little spoiler:
Pretty much everything that you’re working so hard for and worried so much about making happen right now will come to pass. You’re gonna get a great apartment. You’re gonna marry that incredible man. You’re gonna be a working actor. So first off, relax a bit, eh? Also:
Hold on to that passion of yours. You are so excited about becoming a part of this industry, and driven to succeed in it. That passion will carry you far, earn you supporters, and keep your head afloat in the dark days. Do not let go of it. On a related note, hold on to that incredible man of yours, too. He loves you so deeply that you and he will buoy each other more than either of you can even guess right now.
Don’t get yourself too wrapped up in the insular world of college. Sure, that campus seems like the whole world to you and everyone else in it at the moment, but it’s such a small place compared to what lies ahead. The things that seem like such a big deal there won’t matter to you at all in a couple of years. Don’t take not getting cast in many mainstage shows so hard. You will have plenty of time and opportunities to prove yourself later, and you will. Get yourself off campus and into New York City more. There’s a whole lotta life outside of Hofstra University, and you can only help yourself by learning about it now.
A few quick and dirtys:
Research the industry in your spare time. Start learning who the players are now, and not in three or four years. You will be lightyears ahead. Read the trade papers and websites religiously.
Take more dance classes now. It only gets harder as you get older. And who cares what all of those dance minors in your class think of you? You will never see them again.
Start looking for an agent earlier. Figure out who will represent very young adults, and target just a few of them now. It will probably take you years to really find one you click with, so start early!
Start your business sooner, it will change your life. Your acting career productivity will skyrocket once you’re not nannying full-time, I promise.
Those random life skills that you develop now will serve you well in your grown-up life. The little crafts you tinker with now will turn into home improvement projects that you save money on. Your administrative assistant days will serve you well when you decide to produce your own show (yeah, you’re gonna do that again…crazy, right?). Your baking skills will one day help to land you an agent. Yeah, it’s true.
Most importantly, you will be good at this career and you will prove it to everyone, but it will take longer than you expect it to (after about four years of busting your ass, you will work with some of those people you’re listening to on the OBCR right now with your roommate!).
Enjoy the rest of your senior year (and congrats on your soon-to-be-engagement!). Keep on working hard and learning everything that you can.
