Hello, I am applying for a film school (New York Film Academy) and one of the requirements is to submit and narrative statement.I am having some issues writing it because English is not my first language.
"The narrative statement should be a mature and self-reflective essay (2-3 typed pages) detailing the applicant's reasons for pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in the motion picture arts. The essay should take into account the individual's history, formative creative experiences, contemporary influences and inspirations, and personal artistic dreams." New York Film Academy.
I would like some help with my essay :) pleaseee!!! Here is my draft:
Too many people go through life waiting for things to happen instead of making them happen! - Sasha Azevedo, Actress (1978 May 20)
My name is Olaya Velez; I was born in Ecuador, South America and I have always considered myself a fighter. In Ecuador the normal age for a kid to start school is 5 years, but I was sent to school at age of 3, this journey wasn't easy but I succeeded. Among my last year of high school, with the director's help, two of my friends and me created the school newspaper. On my 16th birthday I graduated from high school by then I had decided to become a photographer, a filmmaker or a television journalist.
The filmmaking industry is not as popular in Ecuador as it is here in the United States. The closest to the film industry there is the television, and photography more than a profession was a hobby in those times; therefore I chose journalism. I spent 3 years learning about the television world in one of the best institutes of the country, (Instituto de Television ITV) place where I could excel obtaining a two-year scholarship. Among my last cycle, I started working for an educational channel as a reporter. I experienced the reality of a world that cares more for blood than anything, people whose eyes are closed to art. I felt out of place around them. Soon I realized I wanted to create realities instead of reporting them and for the first time I was sure I wanted to become a filmmaker because in my opinion films are the expression of all the arts together.
When I came to this country I saw a new world, something great and different from what I had known my whole life. From the beginning I knew that here I could pursuit my wildest dream of being part of the film universe. Although this might not seem a wildest dream to you, you must acknowledge that where I come from there is no one who have succeed in this field, people think being a filmmaker is impossible almost a fairy tail story, and they don't have the courage to make things happen.
I started working for a company called workforce advantage; at first the owner of the company hired me as a computer instructor for elderlies. At the end of one of my sessions one of my students asked me about my past, they wanted to know who I was and how I became a mature person at my age, I told them my story and how I used to work for a TV station. After a week my boss called me into his office asking me about it, he was excited with the discovery; furthermore he was interested on my skills. He offered me to participate in the CNA program by making videos resumes of each student; it was the first time I was shooting and editing real videos for myself.
Months later I meet his wife who is also a journalist, an entrepreneur women from Ecuador who believes in changes and the most important, someone who has believed on me all the time. She was creating a bilingual online newspaper. Since I had the experience on the TV field she asked me for some help and after a few weeks I ended up working for Elizabethinsideout.tv; after I joined her team she developed a project called "KUE Productions", it was then when I became producer, camerawoman, editor, photographer and everything else although the videos where only for the newspaper I experienced how great it was to create art.
As many people I have always loved new challenges and experiences, but unlike others I joined the military. Although I wasn't in the Army for a long time, I feel that my experience inside the Armed Forces made me a better person, it taught me to fight for what I want, to never give up on my dreams, and it showed me how to become a warrior. When I joined the service I had a lot of plans for the upcoming years, but suddenly everything changed.
It was the most important day of my training, the day of my final PT test, I had already succeeded in the other events and the run wasn't going to be a problem, I had passed the other PT tests before, nothing could possible go wrong -or that's what I thought-.It was 6:55 A.M. and I was the only woman in my running group. I had the timer on my watch ready, my heart was more of excited than usual, and even though it was winter my body was warm and ready for this last run. Simonds, one of the guys in my team had always had problems with his run, and that day he was standing next to me, he looked worried, so I told him he was going to be fine then I smiled showing him my support.
I was running as faster as I could possible run, I felt a sharp pain in my shins, I looked at my watch I had only been 10 minutes the raced was not over yet so I keep on repiting these words: "we never quit, mind controls body", "filmmaking school". By minute 12 I knew something was really wrong, every second the pain was getting more intense but quiting hasn't ever been an option for me, so I keep running despite the terrible pain, my face must had looked terrible because one of the guys asked me if I was ok, I smilled. By the time I reached my last lap my whole body was on pain I started feeling dizzy, my mind was telling my body to keep moving but I seemed like the connection between them was broken because I started walking, I was a couple meters away from the end and my legs were not responding the way I had spected, I looked at my watch I was in the minute 15:45 I tried to rush to the end but my effort was inutil I keep walking. I finished my run on 16:05 minutes, I wasn't happy but I felt great knowing everything was over, I had won the battle. After a couple steps, I sat down was then when my ears started ringing and I closed my eyes my body collapsed.
I don't even remember how I got to the emergency room, all I remember is my agony; when I woke up my legs were swolen and the pain got worse, not even morphine worked on me. I was tranfered to the inpatient section of the hospital where I spent 3 days under a lot of morphine without any improvement. The fourth day one of the nurses saw me strugling trying to sit up. He came to me asking me for my condition, after I explained what had happened he dissapeared. Five minutes later he came back, this time in the company of a doctor had not seen before. After a couple tests I was diagnosed with "Chronic Compartment Syndrome", It was a surgical Emergency. After the first surgical procedure instead of paid I had sponges and tubes attached to my legs, but I was happy. Among my third surgery some death muscle was removed from my legs. For a minute I thought my problems were over, but after the third surgery I developed foot drop due to severe nerve damage. After these news instead of being sad I starting drawing and writing my experiences, creating made me feel great and helped me through that process.
In order to walk I started wearing leg braces, they were made of plastic and came attached to a pair of white old fashion shoes, in addition to that I had a cane. At the beginning all the soldiers and even sergeants used to make fun of me because of my cane and braces and every time I remained positive. I showed them that my braces and my cane were not an impediment to work hard with every push up I did, I was ready to go back to the fight so I started physical therapy; I was working as hard as is possible, spending four hours everyday.
One day my First Sergeant came to me and told me what my physical therapist had said about my recovery. The results weren't the best the doctor and the physical therapist informed him there was a 98% possibility I would not walk again without braces. He gave the most touching speech I have ever heard, about how proud of me he was and how sorry he was by letting me go in that way. And I told him the story of an Ecuadorian little girl and her wildest dreams of becoming a filmmaker. He helped me with my separation process and I promised him I would take all my opportunities and make him proud.
One of my goals is to make a film based on my story, showing that nothing is impossible and you can achieve your wildest dreams as long as you fight for them therefore, as soon as I got home, I started writing my story, but something wasn't right, it was the end. Finally I decided to change it. How did I do that? I just took the 2% possibility and made it real just like in those movies with happy endings. I am walking without braces now.
I have a lot to share with the world, and to me movies are the greatest way of expression. Film makes something impossible real, just like me.
I know the best way to achieve my wildest dream is to join the New York Film Academy, which I consider, is one of the best film schools. Although I don't have any experience in the film industry I am sure I will fit perfectly in the school, because I am one of the people who make things happen, I am one of those who create them.
"The narrative statement should be a mature and self-reflective essay (2-3 typed pages) detailing the applicant's reasons for pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in the motion picture arts. The essay should take into account the individual's history, formative creative experiences, contemporary influences and inspirations, and personal artistic dreams." New York Film Academy.
I would like some help with my essay :) pleaseee!!! Here is my draft:
Too many people go through life waiting for things to happen instead of making them happen! - Sasha Azevedo, Actress (1978 May 20)
My name is Olaya Velez; I was born in Ecuador, South America and I have always considered myself a fighter. In Ecuador the normal age for a kid to start school is 5 years, but I was sent to school at age of 3, this journey wasn't easy but I succeeded. Among my last year of high school, with the director's help, two of my friends and me created the school newspaper. On my 16th birthday I graduated from high school by then I had decided to become a photographer, a filmmaker or a television journalist.
The filmmaking industry is not as popular in Ecuador as it is here in the United States. The closest to the film industry there is the television, and photography more than a profession was a hobby in those times; therefore I chose journalism. I spent 3 years learning about the television world in one of the best institutes of the country, (Instituto de Television ITV) place where I could excel obtaining a two-year scholarship. Among my last cycle, I started working for an educational channel as a reporter. I experienced the reality of a world that cares more for blood than anything, people whose eyes are closed to art. I felt out of place around them. Soon I realized I wanted to create realities instead of reporting them and for the first time I was sure I wanted to become a filmmaker because in my opinion films are the expression of all the arts together.
When I came to this country I saw a new world, something great and different from what I had known my whole life. From the beginning I knew that here I could pursuit my wildest dream of being part of the film universe. Although this might not seem a wildest dream to you, you must acknowledge that where I come from there is no one who have succeed in this field, people think being a filmmaker is impossible almost a fairy tail story, and they don't have the courage to make things happen.
I started working for a company called workforce advantage; at first the owner of the company hired me as a computer instructor for elderlies. At the end of one of my sessions one of my students asked me about my past, they wanted to know who I was and how I became a mature person at my age, I told them my story and how I used to work for a TV station. After a week my boss called me into his office asking me about it, he was excited with the discovery; furthermore he was interested on my skills. He offered me to participate in the CNA program by making videos resumes of each student; it was the first time I was shooting and editing real videos for myself.
Months later I meet his wife who is also a journalist, an entrepreneur women from Ecuador who believes in changes and the most important, someone who has believed on me all the time. She was creating a bilingual online newspaper. Since I had the experience on the TV field she asked me for some help and after a few weeks I ended up working for Elizabethinsideout.tv; after I joined her team she developed a project called "KUE Productions", it was then when I became producer, camerawoman, editor, photographer and everything else although the videos where only for the newspaper I experienced how great it was to create art.
As many people I have always loved new challenges and experiences, but unlike others I joined the military. Although I wasn't in the Army for a long time, I feel that my experience inside the Armed Forces made me a better person, it taught me to fight for what I want, to never give up on my dreams, and it showed me how to become a warrior. When I joined the service I had a lot of plans for the upcoming years, but suddenly everything changed.
It was the most important day of my training, the day of my final PT test, I had already succeeded in the other events and the run wasn't going to be a problem, I had passed the other PT tests before, nothing could possible go wrong -or that's what I thought-.It was 6:55 A.M. and I was the only woman in my running group. I had the timer on my watch ready, my heart was more of excited than usual, and even though it was winter my body was warm and ready for this last run. Simonds, one of the guys in my team had always had problems with his run, and that day he was standing next to me, he looked worried, so I told him he was going to be fine then I smiled showing him my support.
I was running as faster as I could possible run, I felt a sharp pain in my shins, I looked at my watch I had only been 10 minutes the raced was not over yet so I keep on repiting these words: "we never quit, mind controls body", "filmmaking school". By minute 12 I knew something was really wrong, every second the pain was getting more intense but quiting hasn't ever been an option for me, so I keep running despite the terrible pain, my face must had looked terrible because one of the guys asked me if I was ok, I smilled. By the time I reached my last lap my whole body was on pain I started feeling dizzy, my mind was telling my body to keep moving but I seemed like the connection between them was broken because I started walking, I was a couple meters away from the end and my legs were not responding the way I had spected, I looked at my watch I was in the minute 15:45 I tried to rush to the end but my effort was inutil I keep walking. I finished my run on 16:05 minutes, I wasn't happy but I felt great knowing everything was over, I had won the battle. After a couple steps, I sat down was then when my ears started ringing and I closed my eyes my body collapsed.
I don't even remember how I got to the emergency room, all I remember is my agony; when I woke up my legs were swolen and the pain got worse, not even morphine worked on me. I was tranfered to the inpatient section of the hospital where I spent 3 days under a lot of morphine without any improvement. The fourth day one of the nurses saw me strugling trying to sit up. He came to me asking me for my condition, after I explained what had happened he dissapeared. Five minutes later he came back, this time in the company of a doctor had not seen before. After a couple tests I was diagnosed with "Chronic Compartment Syndrome", It was a surgical Emergency. After the first surgical procedure instead of paid I had sponges and tubes attached to my legs, but I was happy. Among my third surgery some death muscle was removed from my legs. For a minute I thought my problems were over, but after the third surgery I developed foot drop due to severe nerve damage. After these news instead of being sad I starting drawing and writing my experiences, creating made me feel great and helped me through that process.
In order to walk I started wearing leg braces, they were made of plastic and came attached to a pair of white old fashion shoes, in addition to that I had a cane. At the beginning all the soldiers and even sergeants used to make fun of me because of my cane and braces and every time I remained positive. I showed them that my braces and my cane were not an impediment to work hard with every push up I did, I was ready to go back to the fight so I started physical therapy; I was working as hard as is possible, spending four hours everyday.
One day my First Sergeant came to me and told me what my physical therapist had said about my recovery. The results weren't the best the doctor and the physical therapist informed him there was a 98% possibility I would not walk again without braces. He gave the most touching speech I have ever heard, about how proud of me he was and how sorry he was by letting me go in that way. And I told him the story of an Ecuadorian little girl and her wildest dreams of becoming a filmmaker. He helped me with my separation process and I promised him I would take all my opportunities and make him proud.
One of my goals is to make a film based on my story, showing that nothing is impossible and you can achieve your wildest dreams as long as you fight for them therefore, as soon as I got home, I started writing my story, but something wasn't right, it was the end. Finally I decided to change it. How did I do that? I just took the 2% possibility and made it real just like in those movies with happy endings. I am walking without braces now.
I have a lot to share with the world, and to me movies are the greatest way of expression. Film makes something impossible real, just like me.
I know the best way to achieve my wildest dream is to join the New York Film Academy, which I consider, is one of the best film schools. Although I don't have any experience in the film industry I am sure I will fit perfectly in the school, because I am one of the people who make things happen, I am one of those who create them.
