This month’s blog post comes from Daryl Walker, our Head of Performing Arts and Business Strategist and he wants to talk about following your dreams.
Growing up in a big city in the Midwest I’ve always known I wanted to do more than what my life at the moment had to offer. I grew up pretty ordinary. My parents divorced when I was young and that too seemed normal. All of my friends were raised by a single parent so I didn’t know anything was different. Now it wasn’t always rainbows and butterflies but it was mine and I wouldn’t change anything about it.
I was always into performing and putting on shows when I was younger, but every time anyone would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said, a lawyer. It wasn’t because I really wanted to be a lawyer I just really wanted to play one on TV.
Fast forward to when I was 13 and was bitten by the acting bug and I never turned back. I wanted to see and hear everything theatre; it was my happy place, but I still never openly admitted I wanted to go into the performing arts until I was in university. I didn’t just want to act I wanted to direct, produce, and also work behind the scenes.
At the same time, there was a shift in my life. I decided I didn’t want to stay in America any longer. On a whim I decided to move to South Korea and put my performing arts career on hold. I missed it, but eventually I found a great theatre group to perform with and the same old feelings I had came flooding back. I needed more. I decided I had to learn even more than I knew before. I started learning monologues to refresh myself. I got a Masters in Entertainment Business just so I could learn more and eventually would be able to go into any field in the Business.
But my time in Korea had to come to an end. I needed to move on and figure out what the next step would be. I moved to Hong Kong on another whim. I knew I loved it here but was not sure about moving here. Would I be able to do any acting? Would I feel fulfilled or accomplished? I got a job at Colour My World and I was pretty lucky to find a job at a creative arts studio that valued my input on not just things related to Drama but also some of the day to day things to help the company grow. I am able to do so many wonderful things here.
Is this my last stop? No. I have to keep pushing myself to make sure the goals I set out are fresh in my mind and make sure each move is a stepping stone to something that’s bigger and better. So I guess the moral is; never feel complacent. No one is going to give you your dream on a silver platter. You have to go and take it. Hard work and your perseverance will pay off. I am not there yet, but I am closer than ever before from really doing what I set out to do so many years ago.