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I am very excited to launch my new mentorship program ... Alana's Achievers!
After being cast on a hit TV show, it provided me with many wonderful experiences to last for a lifetime! I had the opportunity to meet many famous people and go to some really cool events so I want to help other kids who may not have the desire to be in show business but would just like to take music lessons or play sports at their local Boys & Girls Club but will not have the chance. My goal, I personally want to achieve, is to help as many kids as possible!!! I will always stress the importance of doing well in school because we need an education as it's vital to one's success along with eating healthy and getting exercise! A healthy body means a healthy mind!
I want to implement a program through the schools to have healthy snacks for recess and after school and exercise programs that are fun! You wouldn't believe what some kids bring for snacks and in their lunch! My mom packs my lunch so she knows I am eating healthy!
Since, I am an actress, I would like to help kids with scholarships for acting class, participate in a youth theatre program, provide them with gas cards and help with food for the trips to Hollywood. Most work for acting, commercials and modeling is located in LA. Many of the youth theatres have partial scholarships but sometimes it is just not enough for struggling families! I do understand though that not everyone wants to be on the BIG screen as it's a huge commitment.
I also want to help kids who want to play sports; take singing, piano, dance or karate lessons; and the list goes on. By helping with some of the financial costs and mentoring ... I hope to make it easier for those kids, less fortunate, to see they are just one step closer to achieving their dreams!!!
My mom and I still struggle at times because an acting career is expensive! It was only a few years ago that my mom was digging in her purse for $3.25 for the Toll Road fare. The booth attendant would not let us pass as we were short but I found so more change and she finally let us through! It was crazy and my mom was a very stressed because the cars were lined up all the way to entrance! Once, we had a blow out in LA on the I-5 and 91 freeways on my way to work on a short film on a Friday morning.
The film was for the Elevate Film Festival where all the films had 48 hours to be completed. My call time was pushed back from 12:00pm to 3:00pm so we didn't make it home till midnight and we couldn't go back up to the festival on that Sunday to see the film because my mom had to buy a new tire and had no money for gas! I was very disappointed because I wanted to see myself on the big screen and it was at the famous Kodak Theater in Hollywood where the film won Best Short! In January 2007, I was booked for a feature film called “Amusement” being shot in Budapest.
We only had a few days to get an emergency passport plus buy some winter clothes and my mom didn't have the money as it was right after Christmas. Then, we found out that I had to join SAG (the membership dues were $1400) or production wouldn't issue the plane tickets until my SAG fees were paid. Thank goodness one of our friends loaned my mom the money and told us we could pay her back whenever we able! Well, 24 hours before we were to leave for Budapest, the shoot location for the kid's scene was changed to LA in March which they ended up re-casting all of the kid's roles anyway so it was another hard learning lesson in show business!
I have been modeling, acting and working in commercials since I was 4yrs old so I have worked hard and paid my dues with much success but my education has always been my priority! Some kids think I don't have to do my homework because I leave class early a lot but little do they know that I am up till midnight many nights finishing my homework after driving 7 or 8 hours in the car from an audition. I get motion sickness and can't do it in the car! It's important to me to get my homework in on time!
I am always so excited when I receive the “Student of the Month” award and have the grades to make the Honor Roll because I know that I have accomplished very much by all my hard work at school while pursuing an acting career!
I know that I would not be standing here today had it not been for our amazing family and friends who have believed in me! They helped us with gas, money for food and other necessities! I also owe so much to one of my acting coaches as she provided me with a scholarship for over 2 years to attend her acting classes and showcases.
More importantly, I have the best mom in the world that has always believed in me and supported me in my journey to be an actress!!! She has to do so much to get ready to take me to auditions and to work which is difficult because she lives with chronic pain!
I believe I can help a lot of kids with Alana's Achievers! Kids need support and to be inspired because it will help them build self esteem, learn how to be successful and realize that they can do anything that they can dream!!!
It only takes one person to say or do something special from their heart to change a person's life forever!
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