For as long as Isabella could remember, she always had a love for being in the spotlight. In her younger years she became mesmerized with Broadway and film actors. She memorized lines from movies and acted them out for her family in skits. In middle school, she got the leads in the plays and musicals; she even starred as Cinderella. Then in high school she worked very hard to get main roles in the plays and musicals. Now, even at twenty-one years old, you can still find her anywhere singing her heart out to show tunes.

In her senior year, she decided she wanted to go to college as an acting major at a school that is well-known for acting. When her singing/acting teacher told her, “I think it’s just a hobby for you,” she felt defeated. Acting and singing was never just a hobby for Isabella, it is a passion. This comment influenced her so much that instead of applying to a school that is known for its acting program, she applied to a smaller school with an ok acting program: Ursinus. At Ursinus she continued to get the leads in their plays and musicals. She joined a sorority and made great friendships with the girls. The people and memories she made she wouldn’t take back for the world, but Ursinus wasn’t giving her everything she needed. 

The summer after her sophomore year, she started weighing out the pros and cons of staying at Ursinus. It came down to the fact that she didn’t want to leave all of her friends behind and go somewhere new. Isabella came to the conclusion that “Sometimes breaking your mold and taking the uncomfortable path is what’s best for your growth.” After months of stress and tears from contemplating, she decided to do what felt best for her; transfering to community college and applying to her dream school: NYU.

 NYU has an outstanding acting program, but the acceptance rate is 17% and you have to audition to get in. Whether she was driving in the car, at work, or cleaning her room, every day, you could find her practicing her monologue and song for her audition. The audition finally came around and she did well in all areas except for the interview. She wasn’t expecting the questions that were asked and became flustered. After four months of waiting, an acceptance email finally came in. She burst into tears “this is everything I’ve ever wanted.” NYU was her dream from the start. She didn’t need her singing teacher to believe in her; Isabella had to believe in herself. At NYU, she finally feels like she’s on the right path.