My Parents Paid for College (aka: An Admitted Privileged Life)

And from an outsiders perspective it may look like I have my shit together: my headshots are regularly updated, I have representation, I take classes, I work 4-5 part time jobs but still have time for my two dogs, boyfriend, social life, making my hair shine, and this website. But you guys. I've had help. Like. A shit load of help.

I don't know what originally made me write this. And I was never planning on sharing it. But for some reason I think it's important. I have worked my ass off and refuse to discount my very hard work and I hope you won't either. But I need you (and I need reminding) to know why sometimes the grass looks a little greener on the other side. And mine is because I don't have debt.

---

I have never hid the fact that my parents are amazing. And the older I get the more I realize I grew up incredibly privileged.

I know what you're thinking. Oh yay, a white girl talking about her great life. Hold on. Let me get there.

We grew up all over the midwest. My mom raised 3 kids without any nannies and only once every few months a babysitter. My dad worked his ass off in the liquor industry, starting out driving a Coors deliver truck when my brother was born and has now worked for some of the biggest distributors in the US.

I never knew my families finances. I was a kid, I didn't care. I had a home and parents and ate food and begged for ice cream for dessert. I went to public school and didn't know there was another kind of school. And I never knew a lot of my clothes came from garage sales because I was too busy making sure my baby sister didn't pack all of them away in a suitcase just for fun.

We never went hungry. We always had Christmas presents. We moved houses every few years and each one indeed felt nicer than the last. My parents worked their way up with 3 kids and mortgages and god knows what else because they never wanted us to know.

And when it came time for college there was no question in my parents eyes that all of us were going. And they were making sure of that.

They didn't care what we went to school for, as long as we went.

Even when the middle child (hi) flip-flopped degrees 3 times and had to stay in school an extra year (meaning that at one point in time they were paying for three children to be in college at once). They still didn't object.

---

Why am I talking about this on an acting website you may be wondering?

I have had jobs since I was 13 (relax, it wan't illegal, I was the neighborhood babysitter). Something inside me insisted I have some level of independence and the easiest and safest way to express that was making some of my own money. This was great practice for living in a city that requires multiple jobs...and a career.

But my point here is this. I could not be here doing what I am doing with the freedoms I have if it wasn't for my parents paying my bills earlier in my life. Because I arrived in LA without college loans to pay off, I was able to just pay my bills. And work and survive and focus a lot easier than other people.

Now please keep in mind I am pretty good with money. I do not spend recklessly, have never amounted any credit card debt, and save money pretty consistently.

Back to why I am telling you all this: I want to keep it 100% honest with people that this town is NOT easy to live in or inexpensive or uncomplicated. And neither is this career.

And from an outsiders perspective it may look like I have my shit together: my headshots are regularly updated, I have representation, I take classes, I work 4-5 part time jobs but still have time for my two dogs, boyfriend, social life, making my hair shine, and this website.

But you guys. I've had help. Like. A shit load of help.

And I am not saying you cannot do this on your own. I know several people who have.

Here is my point/takeaway/message:

Just like seeing a raw image before someone FaceTunes and filters it, there is a lot going on that you don't realize. And you have to take that into perspective first before you compare your story to mine or anyone else.

Love you all. PS: Mom and Dad, also thanks for the braces.