If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.

“If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.”

That’s what they say about New York, right?

I first had the desire to move to New York when I was 16 years old. When I began my college search, I envisioned myself living in a big city. I wanted to live in a place where “big things happened.” I applied and was accepted into St. John’s University’s Computer Science Program (I wasn’t pursuing musical theatre at the time), however, when it came down to selecting the college I would attend, I decided to go to the school that offered me the most financial assistance.

I was offered a full academic scholarship from Mount St. Mary’s University, so I chose to make this university my home for my college years. When I first made the decision not to go to New York, I felt like I was missing out and I wondered if I’d ever have the opportunity to make New York my home one day. Emmitsburg, Maryland was NOTHING like the Big Apple. How could the small town of Emmitsburg, Maryland compete with THE New York City?

I put my New York dreams on hold. 

Once I graduated from college and began my graduate school search, I reset my eyes on New York. I applied to Pratt Institute’s Arts Management Program in New York (again, I still wasn’t pursuing musical theatre at the time) and was denied acceptance. When I applied to graduate school, I only applied to four schools because there were very few schools that offered the specific program I was seeking. Out of the four schools I applied to, I was only accepted into one - The Arts Management Program at George Mason University.

Once again, I put my New York dreams on hold.

I ended up moving back to the DMV. The paid internship I had with the U.S. Department of State during the summer eventually became a full time employee position. I went to work during the day and I took graduate classes at night. I finished my Master’s degree in a year and a half. After graduating with my Master’s, I got engaged. 6 months after I got engaged, I won an $80,000 wedding from Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Winning an all expense paid wedding from a THEATRE is what finally got me thinking about pursuing theatre as a career.

Once I started pursuing theatre and eventually honing my focus to musical theatre, I knew I needed to be in New York. While I was working for the U.S. Department of State during the day and doing community theatre at night, I stumbled upon a television series on Netflix called “Glee”. I binged watched all seven seasons within a couple of months. I’ve always enjoyed musicals, however, I had never considered being a musical theatre performer as a career.

As I watched Rachel Berry’s journey unfold (the season where she heads to New York to study at NYADA), I thought to myself - “What if I moved to New York to study musical theatre?” Upon a simple google search I found a school called The American Musical & Dramatic Academy. After looking through their website, I saw they would be having auditions in Washington, D.C. in three days.

I think you know how the story goes from here.

There were several times throughout my journey where I didn’t believe I’d ever make it to New York. After I graduated from graduate school and purchased a home with my husband, I thought relocating would be unlikely. I didn’t know how I would see this dream of mine come to life.

As I’m writing this post, I’m getting tearful. The desire I had in my heart to live in New York never went unnoticed by God. He didn’t forget. Each time, I put my dream of living in New York on hold was not because it was never going to happen. It was simply God’s way of saying “Not yet, my child. Not yet.”

There were some really beautiful things I gained from my experience at Mount St. Mary’s University. I met the love of my life on the first day of school. I lived a semester abroad in Cuenca, Ecuador. I met one of my best friends. I founded the Mount’s Interdenominational Ministry that still exists on campus to this day.

During my time in graduate school, I gained professional work experience, earned a graduate degree, and built my theatre resume. I purchased a home. I traveled. I got married. I started a business. I hosted workshops. I produced and created a one woman show. I ran a half marathon. I gained and lost 30 lbs. I served as a youth director and lead choreographer of a dance ministry.

Instead of coming to New York at 16 years old, God brought me here at 26 years old with tools to help me along my journey. It took 10 years to see my dream of living in this city realized, however, if I had come any sooner than I did, I don’t know if I would have been ready. 

I finally made my way home to this concrete jungle. It truly is a tough place to live, but for now - this is where I belong.

While I’m here, I’m going after everything God has for me.

The journey continues…

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