Hi there everyone, thanks for taking the time to stop by my page.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Eli, I’m 20 years old and I’m an actor from Birmingham. Recently I was offered a place at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, an incredible drama school in the heart of Manhattan.

As you can imagine I was lost for words; I’d be the first member of my family to not only go into higher education, but at one of the most exciting drama schools in the United States. I was both honoured and proud that they would offer me, a working class lad from Birmingham, the chance to study there.

I’ve always wanted to be an actor, and when I left school it was the expected path to apply for drama schools across the UK. I attended workshops and events ran by these prestigious schools and felt…nothing. There was something missing that I couldn’t describe, but I knew that they weren’t the right fit for me. So, I jumped straight into the big wide world, I got myself an agent and I worked. It wasn’t all acting, I worked at a bar, in a cinema, as a cleaner and in schools. It was anything to give myself an income, but what I really wanted was to work full-time as an actor. Then I went to the NYCDA audition.

I made the journey to London where I was greeted by some of the faculty and began to audition and workshop with them. It was the first time that I’d seen teachers from these schools jump straight in and help me improve; it was a collaboration and I knew from that point that this was the school for me.

The acceptance process wasn’t as simple as just an audition however. Alongside my audition, I had an interview with the Associate Artistic Director of the school, I had to write an essay piece for them (which I have attached below if you’d like to read it), and provide them with my academic records and multiple letters of recommendation. I was then away from home touring a play when I got the unbelievable news that I had won a place at NYCDA, to train and hone my craft in the most famous city in the world.

However, like most things in life, it doesn’t come cheaply. I’ve been incredibly lucky and have received both an acting and academic scholarship of $10,000 for each year to help fund my tuition, but that still leaves a bill of £22,474 for 1st year tuition alone; before the task of moving to the most expensive city in the world.

I’ve been working part-time jobs alongside my education since I was 16 and this money, alongside my savings, will help me get a little bit of the way there. I’ll also be working 4 jobs until September, saving wherever I can. But I don’t know if it will be enough, and that is why I have set up this page.

I know that times are hard for a lot of people at the moment and I appreciate what a privileged position I’m in to even be able to begin to consider the possibility of making this dream a reality.

I have confidence in my ability as an actor, and I have absolute faith that NYCDA will push me in the right direction to make a successful career from performing. I know how hard I must work to get there, and any donations you can spare would go a long long way. With that in mind I want to use this opportunity as a springboard to help other people: so, I am going to set up and put 2% of all my future earnings from acting into a trust that will help financially support other young people that have a chance to attend the drama school they have earned their place at.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope to pay back your generosity with hard work and success in the future.

Eli xxx

NYCDA Essay