“I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.” — Walter Cronkite.

With the dawning of every new month, I get to decide whether I want to stay in LA or to return to my family in Ohio. As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down and industries are at a standstill, I’ve had more people tell me they are going home now than ever. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t seriously considering going home too. On Saturday, I talked to my mother about this pandemic and how it was impacting my goals. At the end of our conversation, I decided to stay here and chase my dream. 

After making this decision, I think it is vital to share my story and hopefully encourage someone else who may be uncertain of what to do in this pandemic, to follow their dreams amid a crisis. With that said, I would like to share my thinking and why I decided to stay in Los Angeles during this pandemic. 

I’ve Progressed So Much Since Being Here.

I made the leap of faith to move to Los Angeles in August 2019 with $500, two suitcases, and a dream. At the time, I had no job lined up, no real plan, just faith. When I first arrived in LA, I was moving around town, staying at the most affordable Airbnb’s I could find with no place to call my own. My two suitcases and I lived in some tough environments. I remember going to job interviews at William Morris and CAA with just a shirt and tie on because I didn’t even have a full suit yet. Today, things are much different. 

I’m going on nine months since being here in LA, and so much has changed since I first arrived. I’ve met so many people who believe in me and want to see me win. I now stay in a Hollywood home that I thank God for every single day. Daily I reflect on some of those $18 a night AirBNB’s where I had to hide my laptop in my pillowcase to make sure it didn’t get stolen while I slept. I often think to myself, if I can have this much progress in just nine months, I can’t even fathom what can happen if I stay longer. Each month since being here I’ve grown wiser, accomplished more, and have progressed. My journey in this short time alone has inspired me to stay because I know that I can only go up from here. 

Going Home Decreases My Chances For Success 

My bachelor’s degree is in TV and Film studies, and my Master’s degree is in Television producing; I’ve made a big investment of time planning to work in Hollywood. As much as I love my family and friends in Ohio, I unequivocally understand that if I desire to write Television, I can’t do so in Columbus. The TV/Film industry is in LA. It’s here where you have happy hours, meet writers, and have general meetings with executives at studios. To leave this city at any point drastically decreases my chances of making it simply because of proximity and location.

Starting Over Is Hard

Going from high school, right into undergrad, right into graduate school taught me first hand how hard it is to relocate. Since I was a freshman in college, I have dealt with the harsh reality of having to pack up, move, and relocate. I vividly remember every semester having to leave some stuff behind and throw some things away because I couldn’t travel with every item I possessed. I get frustrated when people advise me, “oh, just go home” as if it is a mere magic trick. Packing, moving, and shipping things takes so much energy, it is also incredibly challenging to do alone. I rather stay here in LA, where I have a sense of foundation than undergo the extremities of relocating again.

The Hardships Can’t Go To Waste

No one will ever understand all of the resilience it has taken to get to this point. I can’t write enough blogs, post enough Facebook statues, or create enough Instastories ever to articulate how difficult things have been just to get here. From being a first-generation college student to getting a Master’s at 25. I also have been blessed to work so many coveted jobs and have inspired others along the way; it looks easy on social media, but it’s only through God’s grace that I’ve been able to accomplish what I have. I believe in my soul that all of my hardships I have endured have to lead to something great. 

My Belief System

Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Each time I share my story, each time I pick myself back up or do something great, I know the energy of those actions has to meet me on the other side. I also trust the Bible that says, “all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord” Understanding that ALL things are working out for me, I’m not immune to hardships. When I experience hardships I have to keep pushing.

I desire to be a man who can genuinely say he’s experienced tremendous success because he didn’t give up. Being a person who is a living example of what happens when you don’t quit, is my goal. Success for me looks like selling a television script to a production company, and I will not give up, or move out of Los Angeles until this happens. 

Conclusion 

I didn’t come this far, just to come this far. I’ve been very bold about my dreams plans to work in the entertainment industry and be successful. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about creating television shows. Every single time I’m watching TV and the credits show who the show is written by, I always say aloud,

“That’s gonna be me one day.” 

I get that we are in scary times, but I’m more fearful of not reaching my full potential than the fear of a pandemic. I have to keep pushing and hold out a little while longer. If there’s one thing that I believe, I believe we will get through the coronavirus scare. I also think that every person deserves the right to chase their dreams. I plan to chase mine, and I hope you plan to chase yours too. 

Be Inspired.