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Reflection Paper

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jordanojaywilliams
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5 views2 pages

Reflection Paper

Uploaded by

jordanojaywilliams
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Reflection

Before taking this class, my understanding of acting had evolved through so many

phases. I started my journey at the age of 9 in theater, where my passion for performance first

began. After taking professional classes at BIH Studios, I was fortunate enough to get an agent

and a manager, which marked the true start of my acting career. Initially, I worked on

commercials, but my big break came when I landed the role of Young Simba in The Lion King

Broadway National Tour. Performing on stage for 10 months at just 13 years old was an

unforgettable experience, but I quickly learned that theater acting and film acting are entirely

different worlds. After my time with The Lion King, I was lucky enough to transition into film,

landing the role of Peter Kingsley in The Sun is Also a Star. With back-to-back bookings in both

theater and film, I thought I had truly made it. That sense of momentum made me feel like I was

on top of the world.

With all those early successes came a wave of doubt I never expected. When I watched

the screening of the movie, I realized that nearly all my scenes had been cut. You could barely

see me. It hit me hard. I kept asking myself, “Did I do a bad job? Was my acting not good

enough?” These questions spiraled in my head, especially as a freshman in high school. What

followed was a period of uncertainty. Audition after audition, facing the occasional potential

“yes” and a lot of crushing “no’s,” I started to lose faith in my abilities as an actor and in the

future of my career.

I started to seriously question my ability as an actor. To the point where I thought that because I

couldn’t “fake cry” on command, I wasn’t cut out for this career. I craved validation at every

turn, and without it, I began to feel lost. By the time I got to high school, I felt like my early
success had been a fluke and that I was washed up. I wasn’t booking roles, and I didn’t feel

connected to myself as an actor anymore. I would watch other actors, aspiring to reach their

level, but I doubted if I ever would. When it came time to apply for college, I had my sights set

on NYU or the University of Chicago. But in the end, I ended up at Howard as an undecided

major because I missed the deadlines for the acting and musical theatre programs. It felt like

another sign that I wasn’t where I needed to be, but I’ve come to realize that this journey was

leading me somewhere important.

I didn’t start taking formal acting classes until my sophomore year, and honestly, I wasn’t

fully present at first. I was distracted and didn’t put in the effort to really grow as an actor.

However, I still managed to take away valuable techniques and set new standards for myself.

Now, looking back, I can confidently say I’m a much stronger actor than when I first started

college. I’ve developed my craft and learned how to approach each role with

authenticity—focusing less on “acting” and more on living truthfully within the character.

From the beginning of this semester to now, the most important realization I've had is that

it's okay to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is the first step to becoming a true creative. I’ve learned

that I can’t keep worrying about judgment or perfection; I just need to live authentically in my

truth when it comes to my art. At the start of the semester, I came in eager to learn, ready to

absorb everything I could, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to take this class. It

has completely opened my eyes to acting as an art form, not just a profession.

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