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After wrapping up my four-month assignment in the NBC Digital Entertainment department at the end of August, I celebrated with my family by going to Disneyland! Well, I was actually working too — I emceed the National Convention for Ascend, an organization which advances the development of pan-Asian business leaders. I hosted their Awards Dinner with my mom and sister as special guests in the audience — and then we revisited the park where we used to vacation annually during my childhood!

As the NBC year-long Page Program draws to an end, I have decided to pursue acting and hosting full-time and wholeheartedly. Working at NBC meant juggling a full-time office job on top of my acting, where I had to constantly schedule my six bosses’ calendars and handle six phone lines, while running out to auditions and callbacks during my lunch breaks. Needless to say, I realized that I needed to make a choice: keep working in the business side of the industry or dedicate myself to the creative pursuits. The most important lesson I learned was focus. In order to succeed in one field, I have to hone my focus.

Since deciding to follow my heart’s calling with the latter, I’ve felt freer and happier! I’ve auditioned for a number of national commercials, a Netflix series, and for ABC Network. I’m currently also working as a story analyst for Amazon Studios, reading TV comedy scripts for them and providing notes, which helps me work on my writing. Recently, I covered a red carpet premiere for the movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and the next day, attended the 65th Annual Primetime 2013 Emmys. There, I wore my high school prom dress because I still remembered how five years ago in May 2008, I thought that prom would be one of the most significant events of my life. Wearing that evening gown to the Emmys reminded me how thankful I am that life has continued to bring me countless surprises and blessings — and why I am working so hard to achieve my dreams of representing Asian American stories to the world!