Jakob’s Story
Trusting the Process
Born and raised in Oak Ridge, NC, Jakob wanted to be “a thousand different things” before a high school Speech and Debate class changed everything.
After delivering a ten-minute declamation, he was hooked.
“I remember that being my first feeling of performing something before a big group of people and feeling in the pocket…and people seemed to really grasp on to what I’m doing here,” he recalls. “And that’s a good feeling. I should pursue that.”
Then came theatre classes, a summer drama intensive, and he even considered skipping a BFA program altogether. He followed the advice to apply anyway, ultimately applying to Purchase.
Knowing What You Don’t Know
With enough training to avoid feeling “like a total imposter” coming here, he now sees how immersing himself in acting training was exactly what he needed.
“For a while, it was like, I’m still in my pocket. And then you start running into problems, like, this doesn’t make sense to me, I’m struggling with this scene or with this monologue, or with being present.”
It’s now evident that it’s all part of the process. “It’s learning that there’s so much about this that you don’t know, and there’s so much about this that you’ll spend your whole life and career learning.”
For instance, when he encountered the work of Anton Chekhov in a scene performed for the entire conservatory, he struggled for weeks, then heeded valuable advice—to trust himself.
“I did that. And I feel like I overcame one of the toughest struggles I’ve had here. And to do that for a group of people and feel them respond like, ‘you got that’” has taught him, “I can overcome struggles if I work hard enough.”
Scholarships Matter
As an out-of-state student who pays higher tuition, Jakob appreciates the scholarship funds he’s been awarded.
He remembers passionately expressing how much he wanted to attend Purchase and was thrilled to learn he would be able to leave without a crushing amount of debt.
“I still want to be here more than anything. But because of the scholarship, when I get out, it’ll be a lot less to worry about.”
The intensity of the Acting BFA schedule precludes students from taking on part-time jobs to earn extra money. “There are days when I’m in class from 9:00 am, and I don’t go home till 11 pm with the rehearsals and everything.”
Beyond his own assistance, he’s grateful for those who choose to donate to fund scholarships on behalf of all students.
“Thank you for providing the opportunity so people like me and a lot of other people who otherwise wouldn’t have had an opportunity to go into the arts because of high tuition costs.”
“It’s always a question, whether or not people feel like they need art, especially nowadays. So, I feel like in times like that, the more we encourage people to pursue a passion that maybe other people think isn’t necessary, it’s the best thing we can do for this world, right?”